It’s no longer a news that President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, appointed personal staff, chief of staff and secretary to the government of the federation.
Although many people have revealed that they are not surprise to see such appointments coming from President Buhari, it’s still imperative to look how these his latest appointments will affect his next cabinet.
Following the appointments, Igbere TV has decided to critically look at the visible pointers and how they are likely to shape Buhari’s next cabinet.
1 IGBO SHOULDN’T EXPECT MUCH FROM BUHARI
The Igbos shouldn’t expect much from President Muhammadu Buhari in this his second term. A critical look at the 13 appointments made by President Buhari shows that only one person from Igbo extraction made it.
This came as a shock to those who were expecting President Buhari to appoint Ogbonaya Onu, a close ally who ensured that he won his first and second term in office.
Onu has been a great loyalist to President Buhari but surprisingly, Buhari didn’t disappoint by re-appointing Abba Kyari and Boss Mustapha.
2 THE MINISTERIAL’S LIST TO BE RELEASED SOON
It is pertinent to note that the Ministerial list will soon be released.
A report seen by Igbere TV shows that Nigerians may have to wait for another two weeks for the much-awaited list of ministerial nominees, to be sent to the Senate for screening and approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to presidency sources, the President is already putting finishing touches to the list, which he has kept strictly to himself to avoid leakage and unnecessary bickering among members of the ruling party.
“It is almost certain that the list of ministerial nominees would be forwarded to the Senate in two weeks time. This is to allow the president check and crosscheck the people he is going to work with in his second and final term in office”, a presidential source stated on Friday.
3 DON’T RE-INVENT THE WHEEL
Buhari rode to power the first time on a mandate of change. His first federal budget was dubbed the budget of change. His ministers were the ministers to deliver change. But the president likes things steady — change or not.
Yemi Kale. Godwin Emefiele. Uche Orji. Segun Awolowo. And now, Abba Kyari and Boss Mustapha. President Buhari does not like to fix whatever he believes is working, and these appointments have just proven that.
As long as the president believes an individual is working for him, and for the country — he believes you do not have to re-invent the wheel. This tells us to expect familiar faces in Buhari’s next cabinet.
4 GARBA SHEHU REMAINS BUHARI’S MAN
Prior to the 2019 Presidential elections, there were talks in the presidential circles that Garba Shehu, a staunch Atiku Abubakar loyalist may be working for the former vice president.
Through the elections, Shehu stayed with President Buhari, and campaign vigorously against his former boss, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer. Buhari won.
Guess what, Shehu was the one who released a statement on Buhari’s latest appointment, signally that Shehu has continued to act in his capacity as special assistant on media and publicity to the president. Get used to Shehu, he is likely to be here for longer.
5 HAMMED ALI MAY REMAIN AT NCS
On August 27, 2015, when Buhari appointed CoS and SGF, he also appointed Hameed Ali as comptroller-general, Nigerian customs service and Ita Enang as SSA to the president on national assembly matters (senate).
This time around, both men were not listed on the appointment. But for both men, this is also not a problem, as both offices do not have stipulated terms of office in any Nigerian law. In fact, the senate committee on customs said in 2013 that a customs CG has no stipulated term of office.
Abdullahi Dikko, the former customs CG, was in office for six years. Ali is yet to stay four years, needless to speak of six. The customs boss as a Buhari ally may remain.
Ita Enang, on the other hand, has continued to act as SSA, up until July 2019 — his continued place as SSA is also at the discretion of the president.
6 MAY 29 REMAINS SACROSANCT
Did you notice that the latest appointments were made with the clause: “appointments take effect from May 29, 2019”. Nigeria may have moved on to June 12 as democracy day, but the transition will continue to be May 29.
New ministers will be ratified by the national assembly as the law stipulates. Fear not, the the appointment of new ministers will not “take effect from May 29, 2019”.
