Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed clarified the directive by President Mohammadu Buhari to ministers vying for political offices to resign in a chat with state House correspondent after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Mohammed said: “The mandate I have from the President is to announce that all members of the Federal Executive Council contesting for elective office must resign their ministerial cabinet appointments on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022”.
Asked if the directive would be extended to other federal appointees outside the cabinet, like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, who might also be running for the post of President, Mohammed said: “As of this moment, the mandate I have is for members of the Federal Executive Council. Subsequently it might affect other political appointees but that will be made known. If there is going to be any amendment or any inclusion, you will be informed in due course,” he stressed.
Throwing more light on the President’s directive, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke briefly in Hausa, said the instruction was specifically for members of the Cabinet, who nurse ambition to get elected to offices.
He added that a fuller explanation on who would be expected to resign subsequently would be given in a memorandum, which would soon be issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
“What the President gave was an order to those who have bought forms to contest among members of the cabinet, ministers who are contest his seat.
“He asked them to follow the steps of the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba did. That Nwajiuba bought form and he has submitted his resignation letter.
“The President said that is the right thing to do, and as areault of that, everyone here that has intention to contest or has bought nomination form, except the Vice President, who was elected alongside him, they should resign urgently and go and face their ambitions. That is the order he gave”, he said.
Asked to mention specifically those affected by the order, he said “the order given by the President is directed at the members of the Federal Executive Council.
“The advice I will give now is that, we should wait for the circular that would be issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the development. It is the circular that will give detailed explanation of everyone affected by the Presidential order.”