There were indications, yesterday, that President Goodluck Jonathan
was planning to put aside the lists sent by state chapters of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, based on his insistence for clean
records from those that would play leading roles in his new
government.
The President’s inclination followed the furore that trailed the
submission of nominations by state chapters of the PDP, and his
determination to hit the ground running immediately the cabinet is
reconstituted.
It was also gathered, yesterday, that the Presidency had already
forwarded names of the ministerial nominees to security agencies for
screening preparatory to submission to the Senate.
Prior to his hesitation, the President was said to have pruned the ten
names earlier forwarded by the state chapters of the PDP to two per
state.
The President’s vacillation on the submission from PDP chapters, it
was learnt, may have been reinforced by the same circumstances that
placed the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim above Chief Ojo
Maduekwe in the choice of Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, SGF.
That scenario, it was learnt, will be repeated in the choice of ministers.
Usually reliable Presidency sources said “The party had presented
Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s name to the President for approval as SGF but
after a long perusal the President said he preferred a personality
whose appointment would generate no controversy. He then decided on
Senator Anyim.”
It would be recalled that Chief Maduekwe touched Igbo sensibilities
after allegedly saying in 2003 that aspirations towards Igbo
presidency at that time was idiotic.
The source said: “If this stance by the President is extended to
choice of ministers, which is most likely, it will block the chances
of many people on the PDP lists.”
Those whose names were presented for appointments that may be
negatively affected include the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, whose is reportedly having a running
battle with his colleagues over a N10billion loan and other sundry
issues.
Also, virtually all the names of immediate past governors being
bandied as having issues to settle with the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, are on the lists from their states,
recommending them for appointment as ministers
They include former governors Adebayo Alao Akala of Oyo State; Gbenga
Daniel of Ogun State; and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State. Names of other
ex_governors being bandied as being under investigation by the EFCC,
are Ibrahim Shekarau, Kano State; Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, Zamfara
State; Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Borno State; and Alhaji Aliyu Akwe
Doma, Nasarawa State.
Also featured on the lists from their states are names of former
governors Segun Agagu, Ondo State; Segun Oni, Ekiti State; and Prince
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Osun State.
The same inclination towards avoiding controversy was, yesterday, said
to be affecting the prospects of the immediate past governor of Kano
State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau in the new government.
In a bid to strengthen its tentacles in the North, the Presidency had
invited Ibrahim Shekarau who was the presidential candidate of the All
Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP into his new government.
Though the role Ibrahim Shekarau was invited to play could not be
confirmed, there were indications, yesterday, that the invitation may
hit the rocks if the President should also use the same parameters he
is alleged to have employed in pruning the submissions from the PDP.
