Ikenna Okafor
With just a few days left until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial list is announced, party loyalists, ex-governors, and other lobbyists are on tenterhooks.
Many expected the new president to have announced his list of ministers after 56 days in office, but he has not done so.
Many people were surprised by this, as President Tinubu had made quick decisions on other matters in his first few days in office.
Nigerians are still awaiting the names of the ministers to be nominated by the President, even though the President is required to submit the names of the nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office, as stipulated in a bill signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on March 17, 2023.
The anticipation is even more palpable among political elites hoping to be named to the ministerial list.
Over the last few weeks, several party leaders, including former governors and lawmakers, have been seen at the APC national headquarters. This is typically seen as a sign that they are intensifying their lobbying efforts.
There are unconfirmed reports that some of the names in the ministerial list include some former governors like Kaduna state’s Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Nyesom Wike of Rivers. Also, the former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi is expected to be named in Tinubu’s cabinet. There is huge anxiety concerning Tinubu’s preferred candidate between former Ogun state governors, Senator Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun
The ministerial list has caused a great deal of uncertainty in Delta State, as the party has been divided into two camps: Ovie Omo-Agege and Lauretta Onochie/Dr. Cairo Ojougboh. Senator Tokunbo Abiru is the favourite in Lagos, and reports say he has been chosen as the Finance Minister.
Some former governors from Enugu and Abia states are also likely to be included. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s name is favoured ahead of Okezie Ikpeazu.
