President
Mohammadu Buhari is said to be fine-tuning the list of ministers, which he might
send to the National Assembly next week. It is expected that the legislature
may get a list in which the Governors have little input.
Immediate
past governors of Lagos and Rivers states, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi respectively; a former governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni and
Education minister in the Obasanjo government, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, may be among
the ministerial nominees being considered by President Muhammadu Buhari, it
was gathered.
Also
believed to be on the list expected to be forwarded to the Senate next week are
a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Abdurahman Danbazzau; Prof. Pat Utomi of
the Pan Africa University, Lagos and Chief Economic Adviser to the late
President Umaru Yar’Adua, Dr.Tanimu Yakubu Kirfi. One of ex-Ekiti Governor
Kayode Fayemi and ex-Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola may also be picked.
Presidency sources said
last night that while Buhari is keen on having a lean cabinet, the 1999
Constitution is an impediment as it stipulates that every state of the
federation must be represented in the Federal Executive Council.
Buhari and his think-tank
are said to have realised that the size of the incoming cabinet cannot be less
than 36.
Although the President is
keeping the list to his chest, it was learnt that he is disposed to accepting
nomination of capable, tested and what one source called “ethical” candidates
from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma,
APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and
the newly-elected Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Ex-Minister Bolaji
Abdullahi and former National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP),
Alhaji Kawu Baraje are likely to slug it out for the Kwara State slot. Buhari
is also said to favour consulting Tinubu on some slots, regardless of pressure
from some elements in the Presidency.
A source said: “The President
has been consulting widely on the list of his ministers. All things being
equal, some candidates from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief of Army
Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku
Abubakar, and the newly-elected Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki may make
the list.
“Some of these heavyweights
have submitted advisory names but it is left for the President to reject or
accept them. “As I am talking to you, the President is
keeping the list to his chest. I am aware that some ex-governors may make the
team on merit.” On the provisions of
Section 147(1-3), one source said: “It is difficult for the President to manage
a cabinet that is less than 36 because of the constitutional provision.
“The President may however
reduce the perks of office of Ministers and make the posts less lucrative
except for genuine ones who want to serve the nation. So in the light of
147(1-3), the President is handicapped and he has to run the government with at
least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.”
The section reads: “There
shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may
be established by the President. “Any appointment to the office of Minister of
the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such
office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.
“Any appointment under
subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the
provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution: “Provided that in giving
effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one
Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”
When contacted, one of the
strategists of the new administration said: “The President is still keeping the
list of ministers to his chest; he has not disclosed any list.”
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