Pressure mounts on Buhari to submit list of ministers

With President Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure now in full throttle following inauguration of the National Assembly last week, pressure is mounting on the president to forward the list of his nominated ministers to the Senate for confirmation.

Buhari, who was sworn in for a second term on May 29, had promised faster response to issues of governance this time around, unlike his first tenure that was characterised by snail-speed approach that earned him the sobriquet “Baba Go-slow”. “Well, all those who call me Baba Go-slow will see whether I am slow or fast,” Buhari had said in a recent interview, hinting that he would act differently this time.

Nigerians are now expectant that the ministerial list should get to the Senate within the first two weeks of its inauguration as the President is predictably expected to return many of those who served in his cabinet in the last four years.

Mike Ozekhome, a renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said told BusinessDay in a recent chat that Nigerians were eager to see the President “appoint a detribalised cabinet immediately”, unlike in 2015.

It took Buhari over six months to appoint a cabinet after he assumed office in May 2015.

In a chat with, Ozekhome advised Buhari to “forget his 97 percent/5 percent voting pattern and shun cronyism, prebendalism, nepotism and favouritism in his appointments”.

The “97 percent/5 percent voters” is a reference to Buhari’s comment at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) during his official state visit to the US in July 2015 where, in answer to a question on inclusive development, he had said, “I hope you have a copy of the election results. The constituents, for example, gave me 97 percent [of the vote] cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me 5 percent.” This mindset would eventually hallmark Buhari’s appointments to key political offices in his first four years.

“He should begin to see Nigeria as a pluralistic nation of many tribes, languages, cultures, etc, and not from the blurred clannish binoculars of a sectional leader,” Ozekhome said.

In his Democracy Day speech last Wednesday, Buhari had assured that his administration would assemble a strong team of Nigerians and allies to implement his transformative plans.

“Over the next four years, we are committed to assembling a strong team of Nigerians, and allies, to implement our transformative plans and proposals,” he had said.

Weeks after the President took oath of office for his second tenure, however, no official appointment has been made. But many of his aides and former ministers are hanging on to power as they have continued to function in their official capacities.

Many of the former ministers have continued to maintain close contacts with their offices, including keeping their aides with the hope that they would be retained as ministers. One of the former ministers was even said to have boasted openly that nothing would prevent his return to office under the new dispensation.

The jostle for ministerial positions is already on. BusinessDay reliably gathered from sources at the All Progressive Congress (APC) office in Abuja that states have forwarded three names each to the President, out of which he is expected to pick one from each state.

“Already, they have been invited with some screened and cleared by the various security agencies whose duty it is to screen and clear them before their names are forwarded to the Senate for confirmation,” the source said.

BusinessDay investigations reveal that Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, has continued to perform his statutory responsibilities as Chief of Staff.

Boss Mustapha, who served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has continued to act in the official capacity to avoid a vacuum, BusinessDay learnt.

Office of the SGF is strategic as it is responsible for, amongst others, channelling of papers and directives of the President, processing and granting of government approval for overseas tours, intergovernmental meetings/conferences, and approving medical check-up/treatment by public officers.

Similarly, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, and Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, are still holding on to their offices despite the fact that the President is yet to make official proclamation on who will occupy those offices.

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity who is attached to the office of the Vice President, has also continued to perform his functions in office.

Tony Ailemen, Abuja