Close to four months after the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the President appears set to name his cabinet.
The move became concrete last week as it was reported that the Directorate of State Security (DSS) had begun to screen the 36 nominees submitted to it by the President.
The non-appointment of ministers and the President’s decision to operate solo in the last three months had sparked controversy from various quarters, particularly from members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who believe that the economy has not been helped by the delay.
While Buhari had assured Nigerians that he needed to take time to pick men and women of proven integrity who share his sentiment on the need for a corrupt-free society, some observers say such claim was as infantile as it amounted to playing to the gallery.
Speaking with BD SUNDAY, a critic who introduced himself as Duke Thompson said although he praised the President’s courage and dream of a graft-free country, he however, believed that such perfection could be possible only if President Buhari shops for his ministers from other climes other than Nigeria.
Thompson said: “My question is; where is the President going to get the saints? There is no name he will bring today that has not been heard before in government – either at the state of federal level. If it is so, it means that those he is going to bring on board are the same people who had at one point or the other contributed to the rape of the Nigerian state. So, if such persons had failed in the past, what then is the guarantee that they would not fail again?
“Again, the President said he was going to pick credible party men. If I may ask, who are those credible men and women in the APC? We know them and their antecedents. Some of them crossed from the PDP after fouling the air in that party. If you ask me, the ministers we need are people with less moral baggage; but I doubt if we can find them in APC.”
Bamanga Tukur, a former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), harped on the need for square pegs in square holes in the appointment of ministers. “Don’t give job to who wants the job, give the job to whom the job wants”, he counsels the President.
George Oji, executive director, Friends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative, says Nigerians look up to the President to appoint credible persons as ministers, especially those without blemish.
The head of the parliamentary watchdog recalled that ministers had been used as conduit pipes for corruption in the past and that the choice of the President’s ministers will determine if he is ready to play along with politicians.
Oji attributed the delay in the formation of cabinet members to Buhari’s quest to search for people above board.
While stressing that such persons can only be found within the realm of the private sector, he disclosed that the President will have a running battle with moneybags politicians, especially those who sponsored his election, if a large chunk of the ministers are bureaucrats and technocrats to the detriment of the political class.
While stressing that such persons can only be found within the realm of the private sector, he disclosed that the President will have a running battle with moneybags politicians, especially those who sponsored his election, if a large chunk of the ministers are bureaucrats and technocrats to the detriment of the political class.
The Executive Director asked Mr. President to take a cue from former President Olusegun Obasanjo who withstood pressure from politicians and brought in technocrats like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, Nuhu Ribadu, Charles Soludo, among others into his government.
His words: “The truth of the matter is that we have very upright and honest Nigerians. The problem we are going to have here is that those people are basically bureaucrats and technocrats. They don’t come from the stock of politicians. If you look into the private sector, we have so many names. But as you know, the appointment of ministers is part of efforts to compensate politicians and those who helped them into power.
“By the way, all the pressure for Mr. President to appoint ministers is for selfish reasons by politicians because they want to be part of the action. If Mr. President makes the mistake of going outside the political class, you will see how the politicians are going to face him. But the pressure from politicians will be so difficult for him to manage”.
For the Director General, Change Ambassadors of Nigeria (CAN), Chris Nwaokobia Jnr, the change mantra on which the present administration rode to power compels a new paradigm in the appointment of ministers.
For the Director General, Change Ambassadors of Nigeria (CAN), Chris Nwaokobia Jnr, the change mantra on which the present administration rode to power compels a new paradigm in the appointment of ministers.
He called for appointment of corrupt-free Nigerians who will put national interest above personal interest.
“Interestingly, Mr. President has told us at different fora that his cabinet shall be an assemblage of good and committed Nigerians and I believe him. Nigerians therefore, should expect the best because only the best can berth the change we all voted for. It is my candid belief that having bided his time Mr. President will do what is trite and right as the sweltering harmattan of public thought is located at the need for a cabinet that is not tainted with sleaze and malfeasance. Nigerians expect a team, yes a first eleven that defines the new thinking in governance, a first eleven to who it must be country first and a first eleven that holds great faith in the green white green. The least margin must be service to country and to countrymen and women. And the new cabinet should be a congregation of youths, experience and expertise such that Nigeria and indeed posterity shall be the chief beneficiary of this watch”.
“The new ministers must be enterprising, they must be above board ditto free from corruption, they must be patriotic and passionate about the journey that Nigeria must now undertake, and they must be detribalized as their constituency shall be the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he further said.
“Interestingly, Mr. President has told us at different fora that his cabinet shall be an assemblage of good and committed Nigerians and I believe him. Nigerians therefore, should expect the best because only the best can berth the change we all voted for. It is my candid belief that having bided his time Mr. President will do what is trite and right as the sweltering harmattan of public thought is located at the need for a cabinet that is not tainted with sleaze and malfeasance. Nigerians expect a team, yes a first eleven that defines the new thinking in governance, a first eleven to who it must be country first and a first eleven that holds great faith in the green white green. The least margin must be service to country and to countrymen and women. And the new cabinet should be a congregation of youths, experience and expertise such that Nigeria and indeed posterity shall be the chief beneficiary of this watch”.
“The new ministers must be enterprising, they must be above board ditto free from corruption, they must be patriotic and passionate about the journey that Nigeria must now undertake, and they must be detribalized as their constituency shall be the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he further said.
Benjamin Chuka Osisioma, professor of accounting at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, said Buhari’s ministers must be people who are not easily swayed by wands of naira notes.
“I think it was Ellen White who said that the greatest want of the world is the want of men. I am talking about men who cannot be bought and will stand for the truth no matter whose ox is gored,” Osisioma said.
According to the accounting professor, the country is in search of men that are consistent and cannot be swayed by the allure of naira notes. He added that the new ministers should be men of character, competence, loyalty, integrity and courage.
“We are looking for men for whom money has lost its allure. But I consider integrity a key factor. Buhari should look for the history of people he wants to appoint, in terms of where they are coming from and how they have distinguished themselves in what they have done,” he said.
Osisioma, however, said that these people do not reside in one tribe or come from one part of the country, adding that the president must be wary of those who seem religious outwardly but are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“Emotional intelligence is also key. What is their capacity to work with people around?” he asked, rhetorically.
Matthew Ibeabuchi, a manager of a chemical producing company, said it is better to select experts to man sectors in which they have been playing over the years.
“For example, instead of appointing a retired civil servant as industry minister, why don’t you appoint a manufacturer? A manufacturer understands the sector and knows the agitations of key players and is in the best position to influence the president to do the right thing that will help the sector,” Ibeabuchi said.
“It does not mean that the retired civil servant cannot be appointed to head the Civil Service of the Federation. But when you appoint a knowledgeable person to head the sector where he/she has been active, the person will likely do better. Babatunde Fafunwa, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Akinwumi Adesina and many others are all cases we can look at,” he added.
He said he expects a balance between politicians and technocrats, but pointed out that Nigerians must know that some politicians are also technocrats.
Zebulon Agomuo, Odinaka Anudu and OWEDE AGBAJILEKE
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
