New ministers: Buhari shuts out kitchen cabinet members, others

AHEAD of his inauguration for a second term on May 29, President
Muhammadu Buhari has kept members of his kitchen cabinet, close
associates and outgoing ministers in suspense with regard to those
who will be in his new team.

The President has opted to go solo in choosing the new set of
ministers. Some members of his inner power circle, popularly called
“The Cabal”, who went to London during the week to see him, were
denied access on the basis of Buhari’s strict instructions. Only a
minister (name withheld) was allowed to meet with the President in
London. It was, however, not clear whether the minister took some
documents to him.

At press time, the President had not demanded any ministerial
nomination list from either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or
the governors elected on the platform of the party. Many of the
outgoing ministers have been running to the governors of their
states, asking that some words be put in for their return to the
cabinet. The President himself was said to have expressed surprise
at the high number of names dropped in some states for ministerial
slots.

According to findings made by our correspondent, the President
has adopted a tough approach to the formation of his cabinet unlike
in 2015 when some members of his kitchen cabinet “hijacked the
privilege of assisting him to source for good hands to impose their
friends/allies on him.” It was learnt that all those who wanted to
influence appointments into the cabinet were shut out in London. A
top source said: “It seems Buhari has realised that there are some
deadwoods in his cabinet which he ought to offload. “He is keeping
the choice of new ministers to himself alone.

Even those who should know have been fenced off. “His London
itinerary was not only kept to himself until the last minutes, he
did not allow close associates, strategists and members of his
kitchen cabinet to have access to him in London. “Those who went to
London came back empty handed. “Only an outgoing minister was
allowed access to the President. And the minister was still in
London as at 7pm today (yesterday).

“We do not know what informed this sudden change of attitude,
but it seems the President is really determined to live up to his
promise to leave sustainable legacies in his second term by looking
for the right people to serve in his cabinet.”

Investigation also revealed that the President has not demanded
any ministerial nomination list either from the APC or the
governors in the ruling party. A reliable government source said:
“You can crosscheck from the party; Buhari has not asked for any
input from APC. “Does he really need it? Are you saying he does not
know what to do unlike 2015? “He did not request for nominations
from the APC governors not to talk of receiving any list from
them.

“Some governors attempted to gauge his mood but he was
noncommittal. He only kept quiet and allowed the governors to do
the talking. “Both the party and the governors have also respected
themselves by not putting pressure on him.” A governor said: “The
truth is that we have not been asked by the President to make
recommendations on ministerial nominees. “We have tried to be
careful too because he does not choose our commissioners for
us.

“I can say that we are really in the dark like other Nigerians.
“Ironically, some of the outgoing ministers run to governors to
influence their retention by the President. “We cannot say whether
or not the President will consult us.” 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.”

Meanwhile, the presidency last night dismissed the rumour of
possible extension of the President’s 10-day vacation on health
grounds. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, simply said: “This story on the
President’s return is absolutely shameful and disgraceful.
Disgusting.”

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