Jonathan asks PDP to compile ministerial nominees list. There are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the Bamanga Tukur faction of the Peoples Democratic Party to compile names of its members for minsiterial positions. A member of the National Working Committee of the faction, who made this known to The PUNCH in Abuja on Sunday, said the directive was already being complied with. Jonathan, in his first major cabinet shake-up since his inauguration on May 29, 2011, had on Wednesday sacked nine ministers. The sacked ministers were Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai (Education), Okon Ewa- Bassey (Science and Technology), Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs), Hadiza Mailafia (Environment), Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning),and Ama Pepple (Housing, Lands and Urban Development). Also affected were Olusola Obada(Defence), and her counterparts in the Agriculture Ministry, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, and Power, Zainab Kuchi. The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, had explained that the sacking of the ministers had no political undertone but there were reports that it was fallout of the crisis in the PDP. The PDP was factionalised on August 31 when seven of its governors formed a faction, known as New PDP. The NWC member, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The President has directed the party to suggest names for the vacant ministerial slots. We have already asked our state chapters to send their nominees to us. As I talk to you, we are waiting for their nominees.” It was gathered that in states governed by the seven governors in the New PDP, politicians loyal to the President, would nominate candidates for vacant slots. In Rivers State, where Pepple lost her job, party chieftains, including the Deputy National Chairman of the Tuku-led faction, Uche Secondus and the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, would play a role in getting her replacement. In the South-West, there are two vacancies because of the removal of Ashiru and Obada. It was gathered that chieftains of the PDP, Chief Olabode George and a financier of the party, Chief Buruji Kasamu, were expected to nominate candidates for the zone. In Kaduna State, the southern part of the state would fill the vacancy created by the sack of Mailafia. In Niger State, it was learnt that a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and an ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, might nominate an indigene of the state to replace Kuchi. It was also gathered that, to fill the vacant ministerial slots, governors that were loyal to the President had been directed to nominate candidates, if there were vacancies in their states. The PUNCH learnt that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, would nominate a chieftain of the party in the state to replace Ewa- Bassey, a native of the state. When asked to comment on the development, the PDP National Publicity Secreary, Chief Olish Metuh, said, “That is not important. It is the President that will choose whoever he wants to work with him to achieve his transformation agenda.” The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, had on Friday said Jonathan was still consulting on the appointment of new ministers. She had said, “He is still consulting. He will present the list to the National Assembly as soon as he concludes his consultations.” ........... -THE PUNCH NEWS
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 09:40:56 +0000
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