INDICATIONS have merged in Abuja that there is more to the anger of the 'anti Dora Akunyili group' that were desperate to ruin the aspiration of Professor Dora Akunyili who was not allowed to express herself on Monday as the third ministerial nominee to be screened but has now been (grudgingly) cleared by the Senate.

Senator Kanti Bello (Katsina) had led the pack that mounted a strong opposition to her nomination on Monday when he asked the Professor of Pharmacology tough and hostile question on her description of President Umaru Yar'Adua's kitchen cabinet as "a cabal".

The Guardian learnt at the weekend that the clique that is still desperate to keep the ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in power through spin on his health, has indeed anticipated that unless the former NAFDAC boss and former Information and Communication Minister is stopped in her track, "she will be sworn in as Health Minister and the office will be critical to the implementation of Section 144 of the Constitution, soon after the new cabinet is sworn in."

Even now, her adversaries have not left the former minister who denied outright that she was part of the cabal and cooked for the President's wife alone. It was learnt that they are fighting to ensure she does not get a particular portfolio she is said to be interested in.

The Guardian learnt that Yar'Adua kitchen cabinet generally believed to have been routed by the acting President's pulling down of their strongholds including the dissolution of the cabinet has not given up as they believe that "Madam Dora who has spoken boldly against them (the cabal) will gun for the Health portfolio that will be critical to the implementation of Section 144 of the Constitution, which deals with "Permanent Incapacity of President or Vice President" and the constitution of "Medical Panel" by the President of the Senate.

It was also gathered this week that, the clique that may not be pacified by any mediator, in the circumstances, had reckoned that it was expedient for them to deal with her (Akinyili) ruthlessly so that she would not show her fervency in the deal that is expected to be one of the first major assignments of the new cabinet to be constituted next week.

"The Opposition to Akinyili is real and deeper than has been expressed, That is the reason they (the clique) have attributed the trouble in Senator Joy Emodi's constituency to even Dora's manipulation so that they can get the Acting President to replace her (Dora) with Senator Emodi just sacked by a Court of Appeal," was the way another source put it even before she narrowly escaped clearance by the Senate.

But now, the opposition to Akinyili is back on the beat to ensure that she does not have the health portfolio especially now that a medical practitioner who was minister of state in the former cabinet has been cleared. Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong is a medical doctor.

Meanwhile, apart from the health portfolio, which Akunyili is said to be suitable for, the race for the Office of the Attorney-General is another keen contest for the three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) within the rank of nominees at the moment.

While Henry Ajumogobia is generally believed to be a good candidate for the Petroleum Ministry, the emergence of a candidate from Edo, who was until recently a big player in the oil industry Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke who worked in Shell as a director in non-exploration department before she joined the cabinet in 2007 has reportedly changed the colour of competition. Sources said last night that, "if Diezani wants the oil portfolio, she will get it because she is a member of the new clique in Jonathan's new deal in Abuja."

That development as it affects the Petroleum ministry may alter earlier calculation about the Justice Ministry where the three SANs will have to vie for the prestigious Justice Ministry. Ajumogobia was Attorney-General of Rivers State in Peter Odili's administration.

Although it is said that the new nominee from Kogi State, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke too has been eyeing the Attorney-General and Justice Minister Portfolio, the trouble with his nomination now is that the Acting President and the Senate have been told about his relationship with former Delta State Governor James Ibori and Ex Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa. "Adoke would have been dropped but for the Senate President who has extracted a written confession from him (Adoke) about his relationship with Ibori, generally believed to be very close to the so-called cabal," a source said.

Adoke, Igbira from Kogi, is said to have denied business relationship with Ibori but said he had some link through Aondoakaa as his chamber was used for some professional services between the two: Ibori and Aondoakaa.

Adoke, (SAN), has documented that to the Senate President when President of a Customary Court from his place in Abuja led him to see the Senate President in his residence last weekend before clearance. He reportedly said that it was not that "he was Ibori's lawyer but that his Chamber was a link between Ibori and the former Justice Minister," as a source in the Senate disclosed.

The Senate President was said to have promised "to assist in convincing the Acting President to retain him. That has been done as he has been screened and cleared" was the way the same source hinted us.

In the same vein, another revelation and allegation about a high profile cabinet nominee that has been spiked by the Senate is against Alhaji Murtala Yar'Adua, son of the elder brother to the ailing President who was reportedly blackmailed to reject the nomination.

It was revealed that while the screening was going on that the clique in his family "actually brought up a case against the youngest nominee to the extent that he was recently quizzed in the United States (US) on his alleged link to the Al queda network in the wake of the AbdulMutallab foiled attempt to blow up a Detroit bound plane in December last year. It was said that the junior Yar'Adua travelled to the (US) recently for a medical check-up and was allegedly arrested and released on the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in the US".

We confirmed that though the young Yar'Adua was indeed quizzed, it was not serious enough to stop his nomination generally believed to have been politically motivated as a master-stroke to deal with the famous "cabal" alleged to be holding his uncle hostage.

As another insider said, "the denouement of the first assignment may result in nomination of the new National Security Adviser, (NSA) General Aliyu Gusau as Vice President while Col Kayode Areh, former Director General State Security Service (SSS) may emerge new NSA if the deal comes through as Yar'Adua's era is confined to history".

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01/030410?pdate=030410&ptitle=Section%20144:%20Yar'%20Adua%20Group%20Oppose%20Akunyili%20As%20Health%20Minister

I wonder why people cook up stories from. Dora ain't a medical doctor therefore not eligible to Minister of Health. Just like the Ministry of Justice reserved for only SANs, Ministry of Education reserved for Lecturers so all is the Ministry of Health reserved for only doctors.
While at it, could you please name a non-medical doctor who has ever been a minister of health since 1999 till date. Think its time to leave this faceless cabal alone and stop cooking up one story or the other. Thankz.

hardywaltz:

I wonder why people cook up stories from. Dora ain't a medical doctor therefore not eligible to Minister of Health. Just like the Ministry of Justice reserved for only SANs, Ministry of Education reserved for Lecturers so all is the Ministry of Health reserved for only doctors.
While at it, could you please name a non-medical doctor who has ever been a minister of health since 1999 till date. Think its time to leave this faceless cabal alone and stop cooking up one story or the other. Thankz.

Anybody can be Minister of Health, even Odein Ajumogbia who is a SAN can be Minister of Health.

hardywaltz:

I wonder why people cook up stories from. Dora ain't a medical doctor therefore not eligible to Minister of Health. Just like the Ministry of Justice reserved for only SANs, Ministry of Education reserved for Lecturers so all is the Ministry of Health reserved for only doctors.
While at it, could you please name a non-medical doctor who has ever been a minister of health since 1999 till date. Think its time to leave this faceless cabal alone and stop cooking up one story or the other. Thankz.

you are talking bull crap. anybody can be appointed a minister of health,justice etc. A minister does not have to be an expert in that specific field,he is there as a policy maker and administrator. He has experts within the ministry already to advice him

@ mikeansy and mrprsdent, could you please name when a Minister of Justice or commisioner of Justice wasn't a SAN (its even constitutional), also name when a Minister of Health or commisioner of health wasn't a medical doctor or likewise for Education ministry not been a lecturer (though not constitutional but however conventional thankz to NMA and ASUU). These three ministries are a reserve for Professionals only even at the state level.
Madam Dora is Pharmacist therefore NOT qualified to be minister of health. The entire story is the writer's own imagination.

Are pharmacists not health professionals again?

hardywaltz:

@ mikeansy and mrprsdent, could you please name when a Minister of Justice or commisioner of Justice wasn't a SAN (its even constitutional), also name when a Minister of Health or commisioner of health wasn't a medical doctor or likewise for Education ministry not been a lecturer (though not constitutional but however conventional thankz to NMA and ASUU). These three ministries are a reserve for Professionals only even at the state level.
Madam Dora is Pharmacist therefore NOT qualified to be minister of health. The entire story is the writer's own imagination.

give me the section of the constitution that says so. I have the 1999 constitution and there is no such thing there

you have to be a SAN to be Minister of Justice

My post was never about an Attorney General, only the AGF has to be a lawyer. The rest can have any educational background.

My post was about Health Minister

Anybody who qualifies as a Minister in this country can be appointed Health Minister even if the person read Music in High School.

I stand by my argument go and check the rules.

Just a matter of convention and precedent. Not exactly sure that one MUST be a medical doctor before being appointed as the Minister of Health.

ilugunboy:

Just a matter of convention and precedent. Not exactly sure that one MUST be a medical doctor before being appointed as the Minister of Health.

exactly

Eyitayo Lambo has a PhD in Economics, he was Minister of Health

Prof ABC Nwosu is a Prof. of Parasitology, Not Medical Doctor

He was former Health Minister

Dora's case is getting interesting by the day. My joy is that she will succeed while those who want her to fail will have to shallow all they said.

@hardywaltz
How not to mess up a strong lady
There is no disputing in the fact that Professor Dora Akunyili performed creditably when she was in NAFDAC. When she was nominated for the office of Minister, all minds were set at her being either the Minister of Health or that of Environment. But that was not to be.

She was placed in a strange Ministry of Information and Communications; quite alien to her, you may say, or that she can best pass as being a round peg in a square hole.

Many people spoke against this placement, but President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua never listened. Professor Akunyili herself soon said that she was up to the task. This brings up the fact of a ministerial appointment which the late Gen. Sani Abacha made when he was the Head of State.

He had thought that since Ikechukwu Madubuike, then the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers, was being referred to as ‘Dr.,’ that he was a medical doctor, hence, he appointed him Minister of Health. Dr. Madubuike was quick (then) to say that he was accepting the appointment as what the Health ministry actually needed was an administrator and not a medical doctor. This was about the same way Akunyili put her present appointment as Minister for Information. I believe that she had started in her usual way of being very active. She visited the Government Printing Press and shouted that the place would be equipped with state-of-the-art machines shortly, but reviewing the budget, it was now discovered that the Government Printing Press had budgetary allocation of a meagre N20 million for the 2009 fiscal year.

Again, she has gone on to talk about re-branding Nigeria. The attacks on this have already made it look like a failed venture, just as she noted that Obasanjo’s administration spent over N1billion on the Heart of Africa Project with nothing to show for it. I believe that Prof. Akunyili is capable of delivering, but her capability should not be rubbished by the President, who had done his wife’s wish of according Professor Babatunde Osotimehin the position of Minister of Health.

- Fatima Jibril, Ibrahim Taiwo Street, Asokoro, Abuja


http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/component/content/article/29-letters-a-opinion/1723-how-not-to-mess-up-a-strong-lady-

Dr Ikechukwu Madubuike is a PhD holder not a medical doctor when he was minister of health.

Well its just a matter of time for all the guessing and wild speculations to be put to an end.

And for those thinking its an error to have a non-Medical doctor as Health Minister.

The current Health Secretary in America, Kathleen Sebelius (equivalent of our Health Minister)  has a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Pub Admin.

I don't know what Dora will be appointed, but the only job I know she can not be appointed for by law is Attorney general and Minister for Justice.

@ ceecee, i dont have anything against Dora, she from my constituency however my post was about giving unnecessarily credit to a non-existent cabal.

@hardywaltz
are not okay that anybody can be a Minister of Health?Your arguments is disgusting

Did anyone even bother reading the report? It makes little or no sense. I mean who are the "SOURCES" making such ridiculous claims? What has POSITION of minister of health to do with section 144 of the constitution?

[size=13pt]144. (1) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office, if -

(a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all the members of the executive council of the Federation it is declared that the President or Vice-President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and

(b) the declaration is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) Where the medical panel certifies in the report that in its opinion the President or Vice-President is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, a notice thereof signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation.

(3) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office as from the date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

(4) the medical panel to which this section relates shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and shall comprise five medical practitioners in Nigeria:-

(a) one of whom shall be the personal physician of the holder of the office concerned; and

(b) four other medical practitioners who have, in the opinion of the President of the Senate, attained a high degree of eminence in the field of medicine relative to the nature of the examination to be conducted in accordance with the foregoing provisions.

(5) In this section, the reference to "executive council of the Federation" is a reference to the body of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, howsoever called, established by the President and charged with such responsibilities for the functions of government as the President may direct.[/size]

Kobojunkie:

Did anyone even bother reading the report? It makes little or no sense. I mean who are the "SOURCES" making such ridiculous claims? What has POSITION of minister of health to do with section 144 of the constitution?

I made that point on another thread, the health Minister has no special role apart from one vote like everyother Minister should the FEC decide to vote.

Medical drs in Nigeria have shown with their recent utterances that they are not realy educated.Though i have my sympathy for them, they are like drowning man,who will pull down even the best swimmer in a bid to save himself.I tell you, just strike conversation with an average nigerian medical doctor you will see that they dont know anything,not even current affairs,infact they are just brainwashed with their NMA politics that make them see themselves as lords while the world is leaving them.Other healthcare professionals did not understand the power they have until they came togerther,if not this recent salary increase would have been rubbish for other health care professionals because med.drs got 77 % for themselves but insisted that others will get 25%,but they failed when other health care professional lead by pharmacists, med.lab.scientists,optometrists,physiotherapists, nurses,etc down tools.

The name is ministry of health and not ministry of medcine,health include somany groups.Akunyili who is prof. of pharmacy is qualified to lead that ministry.Any graduate can head it too.Mimiko the present gov. of ondo state was fmr minister of housing, he is a medical dr,not an archt,Prof .jubril Aminu was a misister of education,he did not read education,he is a medical dr,the present SSG in Delta state Dr.Ifeanyi Okowa is a medical doctor, he did not read secreterial studies or public administration,A medical doctor was commisioner for agriculture, even com.of water resources.Even the present Governor of delta state is a medical doctor, he did not read Government,the list is endless

Now let me educate you,fmr commisioner of health in edo was a pharmacist and also a lawyer,
the present com of health in abia state is an Optometrist,

med dr want that head so that they can continue to twist memos to suit them and stop people legal allowance and make sure others are not trained ,like they tried with the pharm.d programme and msc of radiographers.they are afraid because they have steped on people toes, but thank God in different states and the federation, they are not having nice sleep because the child that denied his mum sleep will not see sleep too.
Dont compare ministry of health to ministry of justice for apart from lawyers which other legal profession work there? ,but in health so many health care professionals are involved,