The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CABINET

  • Vague handover notes delayed cabinet, says Buhari

    Vague handover notes delayed cabinet, says Buhari

    •President: let’s institutionalise transition process

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday explained why it took him time before constituting his cabinet.

    He said the inadequacy of the  handover notes of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to provide the needed information on what the new administration was inheriting contributed to the delay.

    Buhari explained that the handover notes, which came four days to his assumption of office, were vague and  were not as helpful as they ought to be.

    He, therefore, advocated for an institutionalised framework that would make seamless transition possible.

    Buhari  spoke yesterday in Abuja at the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) post-elections stakeholders’ conference on Government Transition Framework for Nigeria.

    It has the theme: “Strengthening the Nigeria political transition frameworks for democratic consolidation”.

    The president, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture,  Alhaji Lai Mohammed, reasoned that the failure of the last administration to pave way for a seamless transition process showed that it never envisaged that it would be defeated at the poll and so failed to put any structure in place for the country’s first ever real transition programme.

    The president added: “Our experience in the last transition process was unique, despite the fact that we have held many general elections and transitioned from one government to another. Indeed, the last election heralded the first real transition in the history of our nation, being the first time that an opposition party will sweep the ruling party out of power.

    ”This probably explains why the then ruling government was completely caught unawares by the outcome of the election.

    “For the government led by a ruling party that had vowed to stay in power for 60 years in the first instance, they were not prepared for any transition that would not be from themselves to themselves. How can they, when they felt invincible, judging by their perceived strength and assumed popularity and the huge resources at their disposal?

    ”Because they were not mentally prepared for the outcome of that election, they were unable to put in place structures that would make the transition seamless.”

    The president said the absence of this almost marred the transition process that followed.

    “Because our country lacks an institutionalised transition system, the then ruling government simply did not know what to do, and unpatriotic elements exploited the situation, which almost led to a national crisis,” he said.

    Advocating for an instutionalised framework for transition process, Buhari said: “It is important to state here that every democrat, every politician must imbibe the culture of true democracy, which implies that they will appreciate the power of the people in determining whether or not they remain in power.

    “No administration must look beyond its immediate mandate, and elected governments must eschew arrogance and avoid personalising and politicising the system.

    ”It is absolutely important, therefore, that we put in place an institutionalised system that guarantees a seamless transition of power, whether intra, that is from a ruling government to itself, or inter, from the ruling power to the opposition. This will in turn reduce the kind of tension and anxiety that attended the last transition, and set the tone for a predictable and orderly transfer of power, thus solidifying the concept of governance as a continuum.

    ”In putting in place an institutionalised transition process, we must also look at what obtains in the world’s older and more advanced democracies. The fact that their system of transition is clear and unambiguous is the reason why they have been able to avoid the kind of tension and uncertainty that we experience in these parts.”

    He, therefore, urged the country to borrow a leaf from them and ensure a proper framework that meet  best practices as far as transition frameworks are concerned.

     

  • Buhari’s cabinet, leadership and service delivery

    Actually  this essay  should  have been titled – An  Open letter to President Muhammadu  Buhari’s  new cabinet,  if this were  not a column on global  issues far  and beyond our shores alone . Which  means that in welcoming our new ministers I must  of necessity cast  my net wide for  comparative issues  to live up to the billing of the column. I  therefore start by congratulating the new  ministers and welcome them on board even as I ask  them  to take a look at two    leaders in  Myanmar [  Burma ]  and Britain.  The  two   leaders have just  won   power  as it were just as  our new  ministers  have emerged  as the   powerful   and   mighty  in their   respective ministries    this week.  They  are  Burmese  leader   Aung  San Suu Kyii whose   party, the  National  League  for  Democracy   won  the elections in   Burma  and  Jeremy  Corbyn, new leader  of the Labor Party and Opposition leader in the UK . It  is my intention to offer  the life styles of these two leaders for emulation   by   our new  ministers as they take on their new ministerial  assignments amidst great expectations from  Nigerians after the victory  of the APC  in  the last  2015  presidential  elections.

    Let  me start by stating clearly  that I regard their ministerial  appointments as a call  to duty and  a challenge to them  to seize  a rare  opportunity to make history  for themselves and their  families in terms of selfless service  to their  fatherland. They  have  come on board at a time when the anti corruption war is the war of the time  and  moment   and they cannot  afford to  fail as they  just  have to face its music.  This  war  is different from the Boko  Haram War  in the North East of the nation  but it is a war  that the nation  is  in the  mood for and  in which   the president   is  its personification and  Commander in Chief,  just as he is constitutionally also  that of  the Nigerian  Armed  Forces. This  fact  has  to be spelt out and known to our  new ministers  so  that they  may  know that they are in the public  domain all the  time and they  cannot afford to behave like the proverbial ostrich  with  its head buried in the sand over corruption because  on that  issue alone Nigerians are  like the Soviet  Communist  Party  of old where the slogan is – Big  Brother  is Watching You. With over 120m   Nigerians   as  ‘Big  Brothers’,  given  our population, there  can  be no  hiding place  for any  Minister  who attempts to  siphon  our  common patrimony  into his or her   private  coffers. A good  example of the mood of the moment and the intensity of the anti  corruption war was the revelation  this week  that a Permanent Secretary retired recently had over 292m  naira in his bank  account as revealed by the ICPC. This was someone who served  for only five months and he thought his time had  come.  Probably  because the president had said he believed in working with Permanent  Secretaries more than noisy politicians he thought  it was time to do brisk  business with Nigeria’s  money not knowing that  the times have changed   and that  Big  Brother is watching not only from Aso  Rock  but in all the cities, towns and shanties all over  Nigeria.

    I  seriously  urge  the new  ministers to  organize  their various ministries for quick, clean,  service delivery on the functions of their various       ministries. As  ministers they  are part  of the executive in our separation  of powers.  Again  they have good examples in the past and even now to look  up to and  achieve their goals   and the objectives  of their  various  ministries. Today  the other two arms of government  have a dismal  reputation. The judiciary is corruption ridden and its reputation  is not much to write  home about. The legislature has shot itself in the leg with the way and manner its leadership emerged and created credibility problems  for itself when members of the ruling party stabbed their party in the back in the legislature.  The  impression abroad in the land is that legislators are immune to the wishes of their electors and  have become a law unto themselves on the red and green thrones and seats they have erected in the legislature which  is supposed  to  be a chamber to promote  government of the people by the people and for  the people.  Which, alas  and    most  unfortunately for  now, is not   just  the case.  So  our new ministers  are the last  hope  of the  Nigerian  masses and they  must  be  ready and willing to deliver on the mandate of the president who  appointed them  as   he   is not only their team leader, but   their  team  manager and  they  must dance to his tune and body language which  is anti corruption, and  patriotic, and  is bent  on reducing  poverty  and making life better for the average Nigerian of today. That  really  is the challenge of leadership  and service delivery inherent in the  appointment  of  all the minsters announced as members of the Buhari  cabinet this  week regardless  of their portfolios  and  once again I congratulate them and wish them God’s  speed in delivering on their various callings and mandates.

    Let  me now bring in the global leaders active on the world scene this week and  their example  for our new ministers. San Suu Kyi  the  Burmese  leader whose party the  National  League  for  Democracy-NLD -won the required two thirds of the votes cast this week  in Burma  was  released from house  arrest  just five years ago. Now her party’s  victory will  bring military  rule to an end in Burma even though the military still has  say  in government as it has one quarter  of the seats  in parliament reserved  for it. But  Suu Kyi  will  not be qualified to be president because  the military  has inserted a clause in Burma’s  constitution to make sure of that. That  clause is that anybody  married  to a foreigner cannot  be president of Burma and she was married to a Briton for whom she had two  children.  That  has not  however dampened the enthusiasm  and love of the Burmese people for their lady leader as they trooped in their  thousands to go  out and vote massively to give her party the mandate to rule Burma for the foreseeable future.  As I remember Suu Kyi and commend her simplicity and common  touch with  the masses to  our new ministers I  cannot  but  also  remember another Nigerian leader and   political  warrior  who fought mightily   for the victory  of the APC  in the last presidential elections but who seem  to have receded to the background like Suu Kyi would once her party selects Burma’s  new  president,  as expected soon .

    That leader is Jagaban Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former  governor of Lagos State who  played  a huge part  in the presidential election victory  of the APC  and   the emergence    of the Buhari  Administration and  who  I believe  is still   a force to reckon with anytime in Nigerian politics including now and in spite of the formation of the Buhari  cabinet this week.  For  now only the unwary  will mistake his silence for brooding   as only  foolish  people   would  mistake the sleuth  of the tiger for cowardice. This is because old soldiers  like old politicians never really die even though they seem  to fade into the shadows. I  expect  the Jagaban to bounce back  and  more   visible, and very soon too.

    Finally  Jeremy  Corbyn, the new  UK Labor  Party  leader is not even a graduate as he never finished his university  courses but  he has been in Parliament since 1983   and  is a veteran   trade  unionist. He  dresses informally without ties and when told that a bill was  to  be introduced in parliament to disallow MPs  without ties  from  addressing  Parliament,  he reportedly  made a famous  retort. He said Parliament is not a club of gentlemen, it is not an institute of Bankers and it is just a place for representatives of the people and such rules as wearing  ties should  not be allowed and that  was agreed by his  fellow  MPs. In  the era  when  MPs  on both  sides of the Parliament   in  the UK disgraced  themselves  with  bogus expenses claims, the new Opposition  leader was the only one with the least claims in Parliament as a tribute to his honesty and parsimony which  I commend to our new ministers as they assume responsibility  under an  equally honest  and  austere leader like  our  new president and anti  corruption  champion and crusader,  President  Muhammadu Buhari. Once  again  long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • BUHARI’S CABINET: THE INTRIGUES AND POLITICS

    BUHARI’S CABINET: THE INTRIGUES AND POLITICS

    Intrigues and politics that shaped the new team

    It is no longer news that President Muhammadu has constituted his cabinet. But the intrigues, behind-the-scenes manouvers that attended the making of the new team have continued to dominate discourse. In this piece, YUSUF ALLI, MANAGING EDITOR, NORTHERN OPERATION re-examines the cabinet politics.

    Barring any further delay by the Senate, President Muhammadu Buhari may inaugurate his behind-the-time Federal Executive Council (FEC) next week. Nigerians cannot wait a minute longer because the nation has lost almost five months out of the 48 months constitutionally allowed an elected President for the first term in office. The screening of the ministerial nominees has so far revealed a potpourri cabinet. In spite of using integrity as a major benchmark, the cabinet is a mixed grill of saints, demons, assets and liabilities; intelligentsia and the weak; and Methuselah and political infants.

    On the whole, Nigerians scored the President above average while awaiting the performance magic wand of the ministers before computing the final score of Buhari. The imperfections in the list have however made Nigerians to probe as follows: What was on the mind of President Buhari in raising his cabinet? Which factors interplayed? What were the intrigues?

     Can Buhari succeed with a largely apolitical cabinet?

    Why it took time to constitute the cabinet

    For a candidate who led the nation as a President 30 years ago, Buhari’s network of friendship is limited, aged and ‘analogue’ as ex-First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan put it in one of her dirtiest campaign jibes. His absence from power, deliberate alienation, frustration, incapacitation and betrayal by the ruling political elites constrained Buhari’s search for cabinet members. And the search hurdles enlarged with Buhari’s water-tight criteria of looking for those with unimpeachable character. Having promised a change, he took time to hunt for cleansers than those who will litter the governance space again. Buhari said: “Fellow Nigerians, there have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious. Our government sets out to do things methodically and properly. Anyway, the wait is over. The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the Senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country are what the APC government for Change is all about.”

    The team and a few surprises

    In fairness to the President, the choice of some ministerial nominees caught many, including the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by surprise. At a point, the PDP retroactively said it had contemplated recruiting the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as a ministerial nominee. Apparently ashamed to acknowledge the merit in Buhari’s appointees, the opposition party opted for an isolated case to deny the President a well-deserved credit. Despite criticisms, Buhari’s cabinet is loaded with surprises. For instance, the nominee from Nasarawa State, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril was known as a “disciplinarian” in Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS). With Jibril, no preferential treatment, no cutting of corners and he resumes work promptly. On his part, Dr. Kachikwu is rated as “Mr. Transparency.” Once you are not straightforward, you cannot have his ears. For bitter truth in the cabinet, the President has to rely on Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Babatunde Fashola, Dr. Chris Ngige  and Rotimi Amaechi for his missteps and the way forward. Going by her history, Aisha Alhassan does not suffer fools at all. She demonstrated this during her screening when she said her nomination as a minister will not deter her from the legal battle to retrieve her mandate at the Taraba Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. The intelligentsia and experts or specialists in the cabinet include Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Amina Mohammed, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau,  Udo Udoma, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Adamu Adamu and Prof. Isaac Adewole.

    Factors that shaped the cabinet

    When the President said in his inaugural address that he belongs to no one, leaders and members of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), political godfathers and power hustlers who have made Aso Rock a permanent base, had little time to reflect on the agenda Buhari was setting. They were overwhelmed by the frenzy of change and not circumspect to the highlight of the quotable quote in the President’s speech. As a test case of his commitment, Buhari appeared to be largely on his own in picking his team. Apart from making his list strictly confidential, the President ignored godfathers, political tendencies which led to the formation of APC Coalition, dictates from serving and ex-governors, and APC leadership at the federal and state levels. For the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999, the nation had cabinet gown solely sewn by the President. Many APC governors lamented in hushed tones that they were not consulted by Buhari, who used the ministerial list to set a new template. There were also no slots for the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. All the recommendations made to Buhari are gathering dust in one corner at the Presidential Villa.

    The credentials and past records of some ministerial nominees were so intimidating that the Senate simply asked them to take a bow. Save for merit, nothing could explain the choice of some ministerial nominees (like Sen. UdoUdoma and Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri from the PDP) other than merit.

    Buhari’s fixation, obsession and addiction to PTF team

    Once you cross his path and remain morally upright, loyal, honest and focused, Buhari will have a fixation weakness on you. He believes in his team irrespective of timeline and the number of years anyone has worked with him. Some ministerial nominees creditably excelled in the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which was set up by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. Besides his brief stay in office between December 31, 1983 and August 27, 1985 when he launched War Against Indiscipline (WAI), the landmark achievements in the PTF greatly defined Buhari’s vision and ability to conceive and deliver quality and cost effective projects within a short time. His success in his initial sojourn in power was attributed to the late Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Gen. Babatunde Idiagbon. At a point, his military regime was tagged Buhari-Idiagbon administration. But with the PTF records, Buhari wore a new toga. The same President has resuscitated his PTF team members, who he sourced in their prime as youths. Some of the nominees, who worked with PTF and the agency’s major consultants, AfriProjects Consortium, are water expert Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa), ex-UN under Secretary Amina Mohammed (Gombe) ace columnist, Adamu Adamu. The acting INEC chairman, Mrs. Amina Zakari was also a PTF star for her honesty and pedigree. The only missing PTF crew member is the late Prof. Dora Akunyili. Whose appointment as a minister by Buhari would have been automatic.

    No yardstick was used for the appointment of the ministerial nominee from Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Shittu than the same moral fixation and loyalty.

    The return of the ‘Kaduna Mafia’

    It is an open secret that after a lull since 1984, the famous Kaduna Mafia is back in power corridors and it is the staying secret of President Buhari. The mafia members have stamped their authority on the cabinet of Buhari. The overwhelming influence of the mafia on the President accounted for the struggle for survival in Buhari’s government by the political groups or tendencies which coalesced to form the All Progressives Congress. The whole idea of the mafia emerged in 1970 when some technocrats, who had worked under the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello came together as a group to protect Northern legacies. Some of these technocrats included  the late Ali Akilu, the late Sunday Dankaro, late Sunday Awoniyi, Mamman Daura, Ahmed Talib, Yahaya Gusau, Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, the late Abdulazeez Attah, late Liman Ciroma, Adamu Ciroma, Ahmed Joda, Mahmud Tukur, Adamu Fika, Musa Bello(Habib Bank fame), the late Yahaya Hamza, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji and Abdul Abubakar. According to investigation, the mafia worked tirelessly for the sustenance of Sardauna’s legacies in the 19 Northern states. The members of the mafia devoted their time and energy to provide concrete developments and promote education in the North. Their era was said to be for the North. Imbued with vision of a likely military interregnum in the nation’s politics, the same mafia members encouraged the first generation of Northerners in the military to join. Some of the beneficiaries were ex-Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, ex-President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, ex-Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, former Minister of Defence, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, the late Gen. Muhammed Shuwa, and the late Gen. Mamman Vatsa among others. Investigation showed that the same mafia propped up Buhari as a military Head of State in 1983 having lost out of power under the administration of ex-President Shehu Shagari (1979-1983). But the termination of Buhari-Idiagbon military junta in 1985 by the Babangida military putsch marked the beginning of the demystification of the mafia. Like the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Ramat Mohammed, Babangida and Abacha sidelined the mafia. It was learnt that attempts by Babangida and Abacha to create a military mafia to replace Kaduna Mafia was their greatest undoing. The Kaduna Mafia helped ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to return to power in a penniless manner in 1999 but the former leader jettisoned the group until he was paid back in his own coin in 2007 when he sought a third term in office.

    The Kaduna Mafia’s anointed son is back in power and it is taking advantage of the moment over other contending groups. Findings revealed that some strategic appointments and ministerial nominees were at the behest of the mafia and some close associates of the President including those of Ahmed Joda as the chairman of the Transition Committee, Ahmed Koru (MD of AMCON); and Abba Kyari (Chief of Staff).Two of the most visible members of the mafia in the selection process are Mamman Daura and Mahmud Tukur. The nominee from Adamawa State, Muhammed Bello is identified as the son of a member of the mafia, Musa Bello who was one of the co-founders of the defunct Habib Bank. It was also rumoured that Adamu Adamu (arguably the closest to the President) was also a nominee of a member of the mafia. The appointment of Kaduna nominee was allegedly made in appreciation of her father’s contributions to national development. The father of the nominee was Yahaya Hamza, who was a member of the mafia and nurtured Governor el-Rufai.

    Family ties

    While a total break away from the past was being expected in choosing new ministers, a few family influences crept in alongside merit. Some ministerial nominees secured their slots on both merit and family ties. According to investigation, Suleiman Adamu from Jigawa is alleged to be a nephew of the President.

    Defending the Sokoto ministerial candidate, a group, Concerned Stakeholders for Good Governance, said: “Aisha is the daughter of ex-Super Permanent Secretary and Finance Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji and current Sardauna of Sokoto and heir to the sultanate throne which makes Aisha a seventh generation descendant of Sheikh Usman Danfodio, the 18th century founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.

    “Also from the maternal side, Aisha is said to be the granddaughter of his eminence, Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, the 18th Sultan of Sokoto.”

    The nominee from Imo State, Prof. Anthony Anwukah is an in-law of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    The imperfections in Buhari’s composition of cabinet

    Like mortals, the composition of the cabinet by the President overlooked a few things which may serve as yardsticks for judging his administration in the next few months. The President ought to watch his application of Federal Character Principle as contained in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. The section says: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies.”

    The appointment of some ministerial nominees has put Buhari’s commitment to the federal character principle to test. For instance, the ministerial nominee from Osun State, Prof. Isaac Adewole is from the same Osun East Senatorial District as Governor Rauf Aregbesola in contravention of the unwritten but mutual power sharing formula in the state. The people of the state believe Osun Central Senatorial District ought to produce the slot. The same scenario is playing out in the volatile Kaduna State where the people of Southern Kaduna are unhappy over the choice of Zainab Shamsuna Ahmad, a supposed sister of Governor Nasir el-Rufai. Niger State underwent a similar experience, amid tension, until the President was pressurized to drop ex-Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto for Hon. Bawa Bwari. The situation in Kogi State is making other ethnic groups to feel like second class citizens. Apart from the sitting Governor Idris Wada and APC governorship candidate,

    Prince Abubakar Audu coming from Kogi East Senatorial District, the ministerial candidate, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN) is also from the district.

    Notwithstanding the gratis screening of Hajiya Khadjah Ibrahim on Tuesday, the Concerned Citizens of Yobe State, in a letter to President Buhari, protested against her nomination. The group, in the letter signed by Barr. Baba Kura Ba’aba, Alh. Sale Jauro and Muhammadu Jajimaji said: “The ministerial nominee from Yobe State is a Kanuri from Zone A. She came from the same tribe and zone with the Governor of Yobe State. The National Secretary of the APC is also a Kanuri from the same Zone A of the state. The husband of the nominee is a serving Senator, a former governor and a Kanuri from the same Zone A. The Federal Permanent Secretary representing Yobe State is also a Kanuri from the same Zone A of the state.

    “This offends the express provisions of 1999 Constitution and suggests impunity and exclusivity of the other ethnic groups and zones of the state. The exclusion of Zones B and C cannot be sustained by any reasonable justification, particularly on the grounds of competence and merit. Zones B and C have contributed immensely to the success of the party and statistically, Potiskum Local Government was in the top five local governments nationwide that contributed the highest votes to the election of Your Excellency.”

    In Borno State, the Southern Borno Solidarity Group in an October 15 petition to the President alleged that it was wrong to appoint the state’s ministerial nominee, Baba Shehuri from Borno Central Senatorial District which had produced Governor Kashim Shettima, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Staff, the Speaker, and the Chief Judge of the state. They alleged that the Kanuri have cornered most offices. The group said: “We are convinced that as a listening and responsive leader, you will take a second look at the political configuration in Borno State  and choose from the avalanche of our highly qualified, incorruptible, pragmatic and versatile leaders from the non-Kanuri speaking areas of Borno and appoint.”

    But in a counter-reaction, a group led by Elder Bitrus Mshelia (Chairman) and Bukar Mala Bukar (Secretary) claimed that Southern Borno is occupying these offices: Senate Leader, Chief of Army Staff, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal, MD, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, DG of Mining Cadastral among others.

    Discontent among APC leaders

    With the exception of Nasarawa, Katsina, Imo and Benue, most APC leaders have reservations over lack or near-zero consultations on the appointment of ministers by the President who has repeatedly restated his faith in party supremacy. From Akwa Ibom to Oyo, Edo, Gombe, Bayelsa, Sokoto and others, APC leaders are sulked. A few daring ones from Oyo and Sokoto have come out against their ministerial nominees-Adebayo Shittu (Oyo) and Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto). In a petition to the Senate, signed by the state APC chairman, Usman Danmadami Isa and Secretary, Aminu Bello Sokoto, the Sokoto chapter of APC said: “The nominee, Miss Aisha Abubakar is from Tambala Local Government, the same local government with the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal which negates the letter and spirit of Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

    “In the same vein, the immediate younger brother of the nominee, Aminu Abubakar Alhaji was the PDP candidate that lost to our candidate in Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency who having not satisfied with the outcome of the election filed a petition against our candidate at the Election Tribunal which dismissed his petition and still not satisfied is on appeal currently at the Court of Appeal.”

    Except for the “hijack” of the Senate and House of Representatives leadership by the PDP caucus in APC, the defectors are feeling alienated by the day in the administration of Buhari.

    What Nigerians say

    Although there is no time limit for appointing ministers, the release of the list attracted scathing criticisms from some Nigerians. Some said the list does not worth the four or five months wait. The verdicts vary from the opposition to the apolitical.

    Expectedly, the opposition party blindly wrote off the list. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said: “By a mere look at the list, one can tell that there is nothing to be excited about, especially considering the length of time it took the President to come up with it.

    “Looking at the list, it is hard to put a finger on why it should take any serious-minded and focused government, six months after its election to assemble such a regular team.”

    “The list and the length of time it took have further confirmed the fact that the APC-led administration is driven by propaganda and deceit, a development that raises doubts on the sincerity of its anti-corruption crusade.”

    A member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Alh. Shuaibu Oyedokun, however, disagreed with the spokesman of the party. He said: “Looking through the list, I’m convinced that we have a winning team. I like the cabinet outlook. For the fact that the team is a mix of the old and the new makes it unique. There is nothing you can compare to experience.

    “Buhari’s government will gain a lot from the wisdom and experience of members of the team. I now expect the team to hit the ground running. There should be no room for excuses. Nigerians have been eagerly waiting for them; they should not let the people down. They should let Nigerians feel positive impacts of their appointments.”

    A former Governor of Kaduna State, Alh. Balarabe Musa said: “I have not seen any winning team in that list but I can only pray for Buhari and his cabinet to succeed. Even with the second batch of ministers, to me nothing has changed. I was expecting Buhari to appoint those people with clean record, those that don’t have questions hanging on their necks.

    “Buhari should have gone for fresh faces. Nigeria is blessed with many brilliant professionals, we don’t need to recycle. I’m not being pessimistic but I don’t see the cabinet doing anything unusual or spectacular.”

    A former Secretary-General of NUPENG, Comrade Frank Kokori, said: “This is a winning team. I strongly believe that it is a team that can deliver the goods. Men and women on that list are competent. Most Nigerians are happy with the list. Buhari’s advisers have done well in helping him to assemble this first class team and I have absolute confidence in the team’s ability to deliver. We should just pray for them to succeed.”

    An anti-corruption activist, Gen. Ishola Williams, said: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating. It has taken the President over three months to assemble ministers. Within that time, the permanent secretaries have been doing the jobs. Buhari was quoted as saying the ministers are noise makers, that it is the permanent secretaries that are doing the jobs.

    “This type of position does not create an enabling environment for the ministers to start. If they are technocrats, they can easily blend. They may want to carry out certain programmes but the president may stop them. I would want to see how they will perform in the next four months before I assess them.”

    A lawyer and ex-House of Reps aspirant Ajike, said: “Buhari has the best team ever assembled by any Nigerian president. Integrity, experience and capacity to deliver were the considerations he adopted.

    “A new Nigeria has emerged and now we can be sure that democracy will be developed further with this great team put together by the president. It is too early in the day to be judgmental. I can’t see any winner there not to talk of winning.

    For the fact that you excelled as a state governor does not mean that you are going to excel as a minister. As a minister, the entire Nigeria is under you. Most of them are going there because of glamour of political office not out of a desire to perform, and some of them are also carrying moral baggage, which we all know.”

    The National Chairman of APGA, Victor Ike Oye, said: “I am impressed with his choice of ministers. Having been tested and trusted, I am implicitly confident they will also deliver this time round.

    “I do not subscribe to the school of thought that said the President selected recycled politicians as ministers. What they call recycled ministers is what I have opted to call tested ministers.

    “The most important thing is that they are Nigerians and are qualified for the office. Every other thing is a mere exercise in futility.

    “I do not also believe that the President deliberately shut out the youth. What he did was to select men and women with the cognate experience to help him to deliver on the delicate mandate Nigerians have bestowed on him.

    “Let us for once give this president the benefit of the doubt by supporting his ministerial nominees some of whom had been cleared by the Senate.”

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Obasa said: “I thought the era of change had come and naturally I expected the right peg in the right hole. It would be a thing of joy for Nigerians if the in-coming ministers can deliver.

    “Nigerians are expecting a complete departure from the past. Arguably, with the delay in picking the ministerial nominees, an average Nigerian thought in line with the change mantra of the administration, those to be appointed would be new breeds.

    “Seeing the likes of Audu Ogbeh and Ogbonnaya Onu makes me wary about the hope of the Nigerian youth. I had expected the president to put more emphasis on youth representation.

    “Moreover, the anti-corruption drive of the present administration is not reflected on the list, many Nigerians don’t see the reason individuals who still have questions to answer with anti-corruption agencies should have been on that list. I expect the best from the new team of ministers.”

    The aftermath of ministerial nominations

    The ball is now in Buhari’s court to guide his ministers to deliver on the promised change agenda. Once the ministers are cleared, the President needs to be on a fast lane to meet his targets. Certainly he has to increase his pace in the next few months. Nigerians want effective security system, good roads, stable and constant power supply, mass employment, completion of rail projects nationwide, food and housing. There is no time for any excuse again. This was why the Senate offered to screen with less rigours contrary to its earlier stand. The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James F. Entwistle, said: “What everyone is waiting for at this time is the confirmation of the cabinet at the federal level and the new policies that will drive Nigeria.”

    If Buhari makes a big difference in the next six months, he would send a signal of hope to all Nigerians.

    Recurring criticisms

    The Buhari administration will be under constant searchlight of Nigerians, especially the new media which the President dreads so much. There may be no breathing space because Nigerians expect much from the new administration. Any little slide will be disastrous.

    Leverage with the National Assembly

    Going by the understanding of the Senate in screening and clearing over 20 ministerial nominees, Buhari has a big task to accept the olive branch and avoid rancour with the Legislature.

    Outstanding appointments

    To heal the wounds caused by the politics of nomination of ministers, Buhari must make it a priority to pacify aggrieved APC leaders, governors, and members with far-reaching appointments. As a born-again democrat, he should appreciate the nitty-gritty of party politics and the creation of a sense of belonging for all groups and tendencies in APC.

    The survival of APC at stake

    The extent to which Buhari accommodates all parties, which formed APC, will determine the future of the party. Already, some disillusioned APC leaders, especially new PDP elements, have started thinking of political realignment. Although Buhari is trying to set a new standard and redirect party members from bread and butter politics, he has to float a gradual reconstruction policy.

     

  • At last, the cabinet

    At last, the cabinet

    Finally, a tentative commentary on President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet appears possible. The public can’t be wrong: the cabinet is lawyerly, star-studded, eloquent, not quite gender sensitive and not too saintly, but potentially vibrant, and in many alarming ways apolitical. So far, everyone is focusing on the putative brilliance of the ministers, many of whom have been confirmed already. Soon, it will be time to discover whether that brilliance can be translated into productive, impactful work, or whether the cabinet can demonstrate the subliminal character necessary to concretise the values and principles of a great society. Soon, too, as a result of the expected synergy between the cabinet and the president, and the extent to which they meet the yearnings of the country, it will become clear just how ambitious the country is, or whether the country has diminished, as some suspect, to become frustratingly satisfied with little.

    It is unlikely that the expectations of the people concerning the cabinet, let alone its performance, will be high. Nigerians are famously not too difficult to please. But sooner or later, they will confront the critical question of assessing President Buhari’s governance philosophy and framework, not because they are complex and the people are slow of understanding, but because so far there has been no clear articulation of these indispensable foundations. The public is familiar with the president’s fight against corruption and insecurity, and his determination to plug, by dint of hard work and body language, every avenue of stealing and waste. But they will need, and will ask for, his philosophy of governance, which he has not really quite articulated. If the cabinet will help him articulate that philosophy, then it will have to do more than make the dreaded noise he recently spoke about.

    There is suspicion President Buhari will hope that the positive spinoffs from his disciplined government and brilliant cabinet will stabilise the economy and ennoble the country’s politics. Should he rely almost exclusively on these spinoffs and hope that a well-governed country with a healthy economy and normalised politics will obviate the urgent need for a governing philosophy, he will leave his government vulnerable and exposed to the vicissitudes of politics far beyond his control. It is indeed possible to govern a country well without a clear philosophy, but as France and Italy contradistinctively showed after World War II, it is impossible to sustain the legacy eked from the physical exertion of simply governing well. Somehow, the president may also view the Ahmed Joda transition report as a fitting foundation for his presidency, and consider other critical reports such as the Oronsaye report as complementary to his effort to navigate the country’s developmental warrens. But for now, notwithstanding his party’s manifesto and the engagement of these other reports, he has not given any indication of conceptualising a philosophy and framework of governance to serve as the indispensable fulcrum of his government, in the same way the world understands Reaganite America and Reaganomics, Thatcherite Britain and Thatcherism, Roosevelt’s New Deal, and Bush’s (the younger) New American Century.

    Perhaps it will take a little longer for President Buhari to give a concrete feel to the embryonic ideals emanating from his presidency. But perhaps, also, there will be no attempt by his presidency to synthesise or grow anything resembling a philosophy. It is therefore the duty of the public to demand, as indeed the business community is already doing, a definite, consistent and coherent set of programmes and ideas upon which the renewal and rebuilding of Nigeria can be anchored. The impression already is that, at bottom, President Buhari has spent more time plotting his way into office than forming and firming the ideas upon which he hopes to base his presidency. He has focused his energies on some pressing problems, and has worked hard to assemble a cabinet that could pass muster. But these will not transform into a great nation until that great nation has been built on a great idea. A fine cabinet is useful only to the extent that it is appropriately deployed in the service of a great idea; a great idea that will not manifest until it is harnessed from its disparate strands.

    Moreover, part of the crisis inundating the parliament, in which a Bukola Saraki virtually and unethically seized the legislative levers of power, could be traced to the president’s inability to conceptualise a governing philosophy for the country, as this column has repeatedly maintained. Rather than tamely surrender to what he described as the fundamentals of democracy, Nigeria needed President Buhari to develop a bold and unrivalled idea of Nigeria, and work actively instead of passively to build a unified parliamentary, judicial and political framework for it. What would Napoleonic France and indeed Napoleonic Europe be without the Napoleonic Code and, to some extent, the Continental System? The world may find this comparison and example odious, but what would Germany be without Bismarckian realpolitik and Hitler’s Mein Kampf? And what would Britain and America be without their exceptionalism, whose fiercely competitive core drove the Americans to the moon and Britain to global political and language imperialism? It is against this background that Soviet history makes sense, and Russian (Putin) redivivus becomes a sensible rather than a provocative project.

    Nigerian leadership since independence has been mediocre. In some sense, Ghana under Nkrumah, Tanzania under Nyerere, Egypt under Nasser, and South Africa under Mandela gave vague indication they knew what the situation called for. There failure, while it can be explained, cannot however be excused. But Nigeria never once attempted to approximate the ideals for which Nkrumah and the others lived and died. Yet, Nigeria has never lacked the opportunity, as the ample goodwill being made light of by President Buhari is showing. Babangida, Obasanjo and Shagari each had the chance to make something out of Nigeria. That they all failed, some very woefully, is a testament to the apparent genetic flaw inherent in their leadership.

    This column invested heavily, perhaps excessively heavily, in the Buhari project before he won the March 2015 poll. But given the undue emphasis on assembling an untainted cabinet, the inattentiveness to the parliament’s subversive and centrifugal tendencies, and the disregard for building the country’s ideological lodestar, the columnist will hope his effort and investment have not been altogether misplaced. The situation is of course not hopeless. Far from it. Yet, there is little so far to give any indication of success given the abandonment of the elements that conduce to building a great society.

     

    Theatrical Senate screening and Adebayo Shittu

    Senators and the Senate President, not leaving out the theatrical and voluble Dino Melaye, have been having a ball since the ministerial confirmation process began. They promised it would be stringent and thorough, but perhaps the Senate defines words in curious ways now. Bukola Saraki has been winking away at only God knows whom, while other senators may be in danger of cracking their ribs from the theatrics on the Senate floor. Some of the nominees themselves have embarked on incredible, extravagant somersaults to win confirmation.

    But while the Senate blithely engages in political revelry, could they be kind enough to interview nominee Adebayo Shittu from Oyo State a little more rigorously on what he knew about the April 25, 2000 religious crisis involving the Tabliq Muslim sect and the First Baptist Church, Oke Adagba, Shaki, Oyo State, which later spread into the town. Let him arm himself with the 2001 Oyo State Government White Paper on the crisis. Surely, as a prospective minister of the Federal Republic, he wouldn’t mind shedding some light on the crisis. More importantly, it would be interesting to hear his view on the matter, even if it has changed, and his projection on sectarian peace in Nigeria.

     

    Gowon and the Nigerian quandary

    On Thursday, former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, paid a condolence visit to the Awolowo family at Ikenne, Ogun State. Speaking to the press, he remarked about how ethnic diversity and sectional interests made it tough for him governing Nigeria. The same complex pastiche, he said, would make it tough for anyone to govern the country. He admonished Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari, almost the same gentle and indulgent manner he admonished everyone to be patient with ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

    The contention, however, is whether the problem is actually caused by complex ethnic and sectional interests or whether the leadership lacks depth and puts little premium on justice and equity. Nigeria’s problem is not the differences between its people, as sometimes competitive as these might be, but the inability of leaders to recognise and embrace the building blocks of leadership. They refuse to acknowledge that leadership compels them to offer leadership to all interests without prejudice, and that it is compulsory to anchor their leadership on the values of justice and equity. Leaders who cannot transcend their backgrounds and prejudices have no business being in government. No, Gen Gowon, Nigeria is not difficult to govern. The problem is finding competent, transcendental leaders who have intuitive understanding of what must be done, when and how.

  • Cabinet: expect much-desired change, says Fayemi

    Cabinet: expect much-desired change, says Fayemi

    One of the ministerial nominees, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday said the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari will offer Nigerians the much-desired change.

    He said the President is aware of the expectations of Nigerians and will not disappoint.

    Fayemi, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent last night, said Buhari will not offer the nation a thoughtless change.

    He said: “We campaigned on a manifesto of change, our candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, promised change; we are going to offer real change.

    “It is about Nigeria, it is about change and it is about the President. We are going to offer the much-desired change to Nigerian.

    “My advice to Nigerians is just to be patient. I know that Nigerians have been expectant but we do not want to offer thoughtless change, we are not out for uninformed change. The President is being careful and he will live up to the expectations of Nigerians. I am sure President Buhari will not disappoint.

    Asked of his plans as a minister, Fayemi added: “It is the vision of the President that we are going to implement. Fortunately for me, I was closer to the President during the campaign; I am conversant with his vision and plans for this country.

    “I thank the President for this opportunity. I have served at sub-national level before; I will continue to live up to expectations.”

    Fayemi also told reporters at the APC National Secretariat that even though he was with the President till about 4.00pm on the day the list of ministers was submitted to the Senate President, President Buhari never mentioned it to him that he was being considered for appointment.

    Fayemi who was the Director of Research and Strategy of the APC Presidential Campaign Council is one of the 21 names submitted as nominees so far to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Asked whether the nomination came to him as a surprised, the former governor said “Well, to the extent that I was not told by the President that I was going to be on his list, yes, it came as a surprise. The president is a surprise master, let me put it that way.

    “He did not tell anyone to the best of my knowledge and I would have thought that I was in vantage position to know more than others, I was with him for five days before then, I was with him in New York at the United Nation General Assembly and he never alter a word about his list to me nor to anyone else.

    “We came back to Nigeria together, I was with him all till 4pm on the evening he submitted the list to the President of the Senate and I didn’t have any clue of what is going to happen. So, to that extent I was pleasantly surprised.”

     

     

  • Cabinet: Why Ambode must get portfolios right

    Cabinet: Why Ambode must get portfolios right

    As the Lagos State House of Assembly scrutinises the list of would- be cabinet members, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the growing fears and enthusiasm over their screening and portfolios

    Since the list of would-be-cabinet members in Lagos State was made public on Monday, following Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s presentation of his list to the Lagos State House of Assembly for screening, Lagosians’ enthusiasm has continued to grow by the day.

    It heightened further at the weekend following the long adjournment of the Assembly after constituting a committee to scrutinise the list before presenting it to the House for screening.

    Before the adjournment, it was speculated that the new cabinet may be inaugurated tomorrow, Monday, October 5, 2015.

    While some Lagosians feel slightly disappointed that the Monday inauguration date can no longer materialise, others see it as a good development that will give the lawmakers enough time to do a good job.

    It would be recalled that the House, during the week, adjoined till October 13, implying that the 15 member committee to be chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Eshilokun-Sanni Wasiu, cannot submit its report earlier than Tuesday, October 13. Responding to the development, a member of the committee, Segun Olulade, had told newsmen earlier that the development “will give the House the opportunity to do its job thoroughly.”

    So, as the lawmakers screen the nominees, concerned stakeholders, who spoke to The Nation on the matter during the week, said this is the time for Ambode to take a deeper look at the area of core competence of each of the soon to be declared cabinet members and ensure they are given the right portfolios, for this is the only way to achieve his lofty dreams.

    Most of the stakeholders said special attention should be paid to the fresh entrants, especially the young professionals in the team, who may not have the “wide political connection of the politicians amongst them” but “who have great innovative ideas that will take the state higher.” They therefore advised the governor to put round pegs in round holes.

    As Olugbenga Akande, a political activist, puts it in a chat with The Nation this Friday, “We are making too much fuss over the screening of the cabinet members. If you take a good look at the list, you will agree that the nominees are of class A and should therefore be accepted by the Assembly. What should concern us now is that Governor Ambode would not be swayed by political pressure to give wrong portfolios.

    He must put round pegs in round holes. With a well known professor of law, Prof. Ademola Abass and about five other lawyers, three doctors, two journalists, including former Managing Director, National Mirror, Steve Ayorinde and financial experts like Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in the famous accounting firm, KPMG, Ambode should not have any difficulties in deciding who is professionally competent to supervise which ministry.”

    In an earlier report during the week, Dr. Muyiwa Olakunle, a systems auditor in Lagos, had told The Nation, “I consider Governor Ambode’s list as bold and refreshing. I am particularly interested in the profile and achievement of the youthful professionals in the list. It takes courage, vision and focus to accommodate such young accomplished professionals in a politically complex state like Lagos. Yes, out of the 23 commissioners-to-be and the 13 special advisers-to-be, there are known politicians but to me, by injecting into the system, youthful fresh blood, including core professionals like Akinyemi Ashade,  a partner in KPMG with special expertise on Financial Services Industry and others like Mrs. Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Olemoh, former Managing Director, National Mirror, Steve Ayorinde, Alhaja Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, Kehinde Joseph and Prof. Ademola Abass, a professor of Law, Ambode is set to face the current challenges of today’s governance.”

    For Alhaji Kehinde Yusuf, an economist, any government that wants to succeed must ensure that it has level headed financial experts in its cabinet. “Such experts should not also be there for the sake of it but should be made to supervise relevant departments like finance, planning, budget office, works, etc. Given the realities of Nigerian and global economy, every government must allow experts to guild it in its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive and in its expenditure habits.

    I have always advocated use of dynamic professionals with credible private sector industry background instead of mere political nominees in critical areas like commissioners of finance, planning, budgeting, strategy, works and such like. This is why I am happy at the profile of the people that made Ambode’s list, especially the fresh blood, the young professionals he injected into the system. I think they are likely to evolve more innovative and effective ways of running government.

    “While the inclusion of some cabinet members that worked with former Governor Babatunde Fashola confirms continuity in Lagos, the inclusion of these fresh blood, not just in a bid to satisfy political interests but on the basis of merit and competence, is reason enough to commend Ambode.”

    Olajide Idris, a management consultant in Ikeja Business District, was more blunt in his response. “I think Ambode has scaled the first hurdle by injecting new blood into the system as he promised in his inaugural speech. What is remaining is to ignore political pressure and give these professionals core positions in line with their expertise. For example, financial experts, especially the ones with less political baggage, should be assigned to run finance, planning, budgeting ministries and whatever office that will oversee IGR. This should be the same for the other sectors. This is what I call putting round pegs in round holes. This is the only way to go.”

    Other personalities that have publicly defended the pedigree of the nominees and called on the Assembly and the governor to do the needful include the senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, and the spokesperson of the Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joe Igbokwe.

    While Adeola said, “I must say I am impressed with the governor’s painstaking efforts in choosing a team that comprise a mixture of technocrats, politicians and strategists,” Igbokwe, in a statement, described the nominees as “cerebral and very competent personalities who can hold their heads high anywhere in the world and answer their fathers names if the need arises.”

  • Ambode submits cabinet list for screening

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday presented the list of would-be cabinet members to the House of Assembly for screening.
    The Clerk of the House, Mr. Ganiyu Abiru read the names on the floor to members.
    The Governor is requesting for the screening and approval of 36 persons with 23 as Commissioners and 13 as Special Advisers.
    Amongst the names are six former cabinet members from the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration including former commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, former Special Adviser, Central Business District, Folarin Coker, former Special Adviser Commerce and Industry, Seye Oladejo, former Special Adviser Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson and former Special Adviser Rural Development, Babatunde Hunpe.
    The Governor named Mrs. Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Olemoh, Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in KPMG, former Managing Director, National Mirror, Steve Ayorinde, Alhaja Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, Kehinde Joseph and Prof. Ademola Abass, a professor of Law.
    Other on the list are Dr. Akintola Benson, former Special Adviser Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Dr. Mohammed Akinkunmi, former member, House of Representatives, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, Dr. Femi Onanuga, CEO of LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, Arch. Wasiu Anifowoshe, former member House of Assembly, Mrs. Lola Akande, Agboola Dabiri, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Anofi Elegushi, Rotimi Ogunleye, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi, Alhaji Musiliu Folami, Adeniji Kazeem, Adeyemi Labinjo, Toyin Suarau, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Deji Tinubu, Mrs. Mudirat Giwanson, former Chairman Ejigbo LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan and Wale Oluwo.
    The screening of the list is expected to commence immediately after the Sallah holidays while cleared cabinet members would likely be sworn in to resume the task of governance by Monday, October 5, 2015.

  • Cabinet: Buhari consults Obasanjo over team

    Cabinet: Buhari consults Obasanjo over team

    • May submit list to National Assembly in batches

    There were strong indications that the recent audience between President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo centred on national issues, especially the choice of ministers.

    It was gathered that Buhari opened up to Obasanjo on the criteria for choosing his ministers.

    It was learnt that the president said he was thinking of trying “new hands” instead of recycling the same old ones.

    But findings confirmed that the president may send the list of ministers to the National Assembly in batches because of the likely merger of some ministries, departments and agencies.

    The first batch is likely to meet the September deadline set by the president.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the meeting between the two leaders focused on what Buhari had done in the last 100 days, the challenges at hand, and the composition of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    A highly-placed source said: “Apart from other national issues, the president took time to explain the criteria he will be using to appoint his ministers. He said he might try new hands instead of using the same set of people that had served Nigerians.

    “He also said anyone with tainted records or with issues on corruption may not get a slot in his cabinet. I think he is on the same page with Obasanjo on the anti-corruption agenda.

    “The president restated why he would need a team to fix basic things in the country.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “Buhari did not mention any name on the cabinet list to Obasanjo but he spoke on the benchmarks for would-be appointees and those he won’t accept.”

    After the closed door session, ex-President Obasanjo refused to speak with newsmen at the Presidential Villa.

    When pressed to respond to reporters’ enquiry, Obasanjo said: “Comot joo” (go away).”

    According to a reliable source, the president may name the cabinet in phases because of the likely merger of some ministries, departments and agencies in line with the recommendations of the Ahmed Joda Transition Committee.

    It was learnt that the president might name ministers for key portfolios like Petroleum Resources, Finance, Works, Aviation, Health, and Justice.

    The source added: “The president is ready to keep to the September deadline but one of the options on the card is to name ministers in batches because of the likely merger of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    “For instance, the Ministry of Special Duties is likely to be scrapped because it is only being used for constituency projects and other questionable contracts.

    “Rather than keeping the nation waiting, the list may go to the National Assembly in batches.”

    When contacted last night, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, who was about boarding a flight to Paris, said: “Honestly, I do not have any latest information on the appointment of new ministers.”

    The Nation had exclusively reported that the president is on the final lap of consultations on his cabinet.

    It was still unclear if the president will reduce the size of the cabinet from 42 to 36 or a lower figure.

    Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint 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.”

     

  • I will name my cabinet before Sept 30- Buhari

    I will name my cabinet before Sept 30- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Aburi, Ghana reassured Nigerians and the international community that he will name his cabinet before the end of the month.

    Buhari gave the assurance at a joint press conference with President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “After I was sworn-in, I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after the 30th of September if I do not do so.”

    He also told reporters that the Nigerian military, in close collaboration with the Multi-National Joint Task Force, has recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram since he assumed office as President.

    He said: “The first thing I did after I came into office was to reorganize the military and clear orders were given to them in terms of retraining, re-equipping and redeployment of troops.

    “In the northeast, the military is gaining ground and Boko Haram has been limited to the Sambisa forest.

    “Internally Displaced Persons are gradually moving back home and they are being reintegrated into their respective communities,” President Buhari said.

    On the declaration of assets, the President affirmed that it was a constitutional requirement that all public office holders in Nigeria should declare their assets before and after their term in office.

    The President said: “I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council. Officials of Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

    “All Heads of States and Government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.

    “I have declared my assets four times. When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of State and now as a President, I have also declared.”

    Speaking earlier, President Mahama said both leaders had fruitful discussions on how to enhance bilateral relations and improve regional security.

    President Mahama said that Nigeria and Ghana will soon begin the process of reviving their joint commission for cooperation.

    The Ghanaian President added that both leaders also agreed to encourage closer cooperation between the intelligence and anti-graft agencies of both countries.

    He thanked President Buhari for his visit and assured him of Ghana’s support and cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

  • Buhari’s cabinet: We are hopeful, say industrialists, investors

    Buhari’s cabinet: We are hopeful, say industrialists, investors

    Amidt growing concern over the delay in the formation of a cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, industrialists and business operators are optimistic that the delay will  augur well for the economy. According to them, it will ensure that only technocrats who are square pegs in square holes make the list, thus boosting investor’ confidence, reports Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

    It’s probably one of the hottest issues of national discourse, but to many industrialists and business operators, the anxiety over the delay in the announcement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet is unnecessary.

    Many who spoke with The Nation said contrary to insinuations that the delay in making the cabinet list is slowing down governance and investment decisions, it is better for the administration to take its time to study the complexities of the economy before announcing its cabinet. According to them, this was necessary to ensure a clean break from the past when square pegs were put in round holes, a reference to the appointment of non-technocrats to man key positions.

    The consensus of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), is that in the long run, the delay could turn out a shot-in-the arm for industrialists and other business operators, as the delay would ensure that only those properly schooled in the dynamics of the Nigerian economy are appointed, particularly now that the nation is facing its worst crisis ever. This, in turn, would boost investor’ confidence, guarantee the protection of their investment, and ultimately return the economy on the path of recovery.

    For instance, as former President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Bode Adediji put it, the nation is in transition and so it needs to take time to ensure a dynamic and credible team to tackle the monumental problems confronting her.

    Adediji, who defended the President’s seeming inaction based on his (Buhari’s) anti-corruption credentials, insisted that he must be given enough time to assemble a crack-team for the job.

    Hear him: “Buhari needs to be diligent. A single man cannot effectively fight the war against corruption, or correct the ills of several years of under development. But based on his track record, l am confident that he is working silently for the good of the nation. I also urge his political party to quickly resolve their differences in order to usher in a sustainable change. A situation that they can’t agree on power sharing formula and other things of common interest, is not healthy for the country.”

    A Public Affairs Analyst, Mr. Mahmud Othman,  agreed with Adediji. He said he wouldn’t join the ranks of those criticising the president for not constituting his cabinet yet.

    According to him, “people are finding it very difficult to believe the level of damage to the economy. The transition committee headed by Ahmed Joda made a lot of discoveries. If you appoint ministers without knowing the state of the economy and bringing the right people on board, the economy will run into deeper problems. People are becoming impatient, but l will counsel that we are better off doing the right thing before constituting the cabinet.

    Othman said Buhari didn’t hide his preference to choose the best for the task ahead and not necessarily based on political consideration, but those who can deliver to move the economy forward. He pointed out that the economy is in tatters as can be seen from the various states that can’t pay workers’ salaries, let alone embarking on new projects.

    “Oil money is no longer available. The debt profile is scary. Personally l don’t envy any political appointee especially ministers because the expectations are too high. As a stop gap to the appointment of ministers, the Permanent Secretaries in the ministries are working and no investor will leave because of late appointment of ministers,” he added.

    The Public Affairs Analyst is not done. While disagreeing with those arguing that governance is crawling because of the delay in constituting a cabinet, he insisted that various aspects of governance backed by law are operating as they don’t need ministers to work. He said anti corruption agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC), have suddenly woken up and are arresting those alleged to be corrupt unlike before. This, he said, is because they have read the president’s body language and known that he is not interested in condoling corruption.

    Othman however criticised the lack of information from the Buhari’s government. While noting that it is a minus to the administration, he said, “Frayed nerves are not calmed because it is a different thing for 36 ministers to be talking from the perspective of their ministries rather than what is obtainable now where nobody is hearing anything that can sooth the nerves of the public and people just believe that governance has taken flight.” He however, encouraged Nigerians to be hopeful and be confident that the Buhari administration will deliver on his campaign promises and that the nation will be great again.

    However, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, over the weekend, sought to close the perceived communication gap when he said it will take time to clear the mess created by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Adesina, in statement, said “It requires scrupulous and painstaking planning to clean the PDP’s Augean Stable.” He also noted that Nigerians were already on the side of the administration, which he said was on course.

    Adesina was reacting to the 30 days appraisal of Buhari administration by the opposition PDP. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, had in a statement during the weekend, taken a swipe on the Buhari administration, noting that the enormity of the confusion surrounding the government and the ruling party in the last one month had made it imperative for Nigerians to pray as the success or failure of the Buhari administration would not only affect the President and his party, but also the entire nation.

    The statement by Metuh said: “We urge Nigerians to join hands in prayers and offer useful suggestions to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC because with what we have seen in the last 30 days, the present administration is finding it very difficult to get its bearings right while showing no inclination towards implementing its numerous campaign promises for which they were voted into office at the centre. We are deeply worried that the President, who promised to unveil his cabinet two weeks after his inauguration, has not been able to decide on key appointments, such as ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief of Staff and advisers in key sectors of the economy.”

    Metu said the delay has brought government business in ministries, departments and agencies to a dangerous standstill with coordination of important policies vested on ministers and the SGF now in tatters while the system drifts. According to him, the situation is taking its toll on the economy, which has in the last 30 days witnessed unprecedented decline with a terrifying crippling of foreign and domestic investments, including activities in the money and capital market sectors. He said under Buhari, for instance, the stock market has lost over N238 billion while the All-Share Index fell by 849.87 basis points as at June 19.

    For Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, there is no clear indication on the position of the government and investors need to know the direction the administration is going to avoid creating doubt in the minds of the public. By now, there should have been clear direction in key sectors of the economy such as energy, oil and gas, monetary and fiscal policies. The problems of uncertainty have persisted in the economy and the issue of conjecture has persisted in the economy with people guessing at what the government is planning as far as policy direction is concerned,” he told The Nation.

    While pointing out that people are not insisting on full implementation of the administration’s blue print on the economy, he said there is need for investors to have a bearing on what to expect in the new dispensation. But the thinking of other operators in various sectors is that the delay in constituting a cabinet was informed by the realities on ground particularly the need to get things right.

    For instance, apart from the need to clear the rot inherited from the previous administration, the crisis in the National Assembly over the choice of principal officers as well as the need to prune down the number of ministries and parastatals, The Nation learnt, are also responsible for the delay. But the consensus is that by the time the cabinet is eventually constituted, Nigerians and the economy would be better for it.