Frontline members of the current Federal Executive Council including Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Finance Minister Dr. Segun Aganga and Defence Minister Chief Adetokunbo Kayode are on their way out because none of them featured among the 10 persons per state nominated by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s [PDP] state chapters for appointment as ministers and other high officials, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.

A copy of the official list of nominees from 27 states was obtained by Daily Trust, which showed there were errors in some of the names earlier reported in the newspapers.

Mrs Allison-Madueke, known to be very close to President Goodluck Jonathan, nevertheless did not feature in the 10-member list from Bayelsa State, while Aganga, a former managing director at Goldman Sachs, was not on the 10-man list from Lagos State. Similarly, Defence Minister Kayode’s name did not feature in the list from his native Ondo State. The minister has been having running battles from his state’s PDP chapter since the general elections ended last month, and the party even pronounced him suspended.


Other serving ministers who failed to make it into their states’ lists include National Planning Minister Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, from Kano; Police Affairs Minister Mr. Humphrey Abah, from Kogi; Culture and National Orientation Minister Alhaji Abubakar Mohamed, from Gombe, and Minister of State for Health Alhaji Sulaiman Bello, from Zamfara. Agriculture Minister Professor Sheikh Abdallah was also not on the list from Niger State, nor is Water Resources Minister Obadiah Ando in the list from Taraba.

Controversially, there were two “official” lists from Yobe State. One contained the name of former Police Affairs Minister Adamu Maina Waziri while the other did not. The only person who featured in both lists is the party’s gubernatorial candidate in last month’s election Senator Usman Albishir.

However, many other ministers squeaked through to make the list from their states, which however far from guarantees a return to the cabinet. They include Education Minister Professor Rukayyatu Alkali from Jigawa, Mines and Steel Development Minister Architect Musa Sada from Katsina, Information Minister Labaran Maku from Nasarawa, Aviation Minister Mrs Fidelia Njeze from Enugu, Environment Minister John Ogar Odey from Cross River, Sports Minister Professor Taofeek Adedoja from Oyo, Niger Delta Minister Godsday Orubebe from Delta, as well as Science and Technology Minister Professor Mohamed Abubakar from Kebbi.

Contrary to some newspaper reports, outgoing Nasarawa State governor Aliyu Doma is not on the list from the state, nor is the late President Yar’adua’s daughter Hajiya Maryam Yar’adua on the list from Katsina.

Appearing in the PDP list is only the first step towards securing ministerial nomination. Though there are ten nominees from each state [11 nominees from Taraba State], each state will get to produce only one minister, though a few states will get more than that if the president decides to appoint an additional minister each per geopolitical zone, as has happened since 1999. The remaining names on the list are expected to be appointed as ambassadors and chairmen of the boards of federal agencies.

It is also possible that the president will nominate some ministers entirely from outside the PDP lists. He has already signalled that he may nominate some technocrats to man some specialised ministries. President Jonathan may also offer some cabinet positions to some other political parties that supported him in the election, namely APGA, Labour Party and perhaps ACN.

after all the campaign on NTA last week by the minister of petroleum to be retained? I think she will be retained.

How can u leave out brilliant chaps like diezani and aganga,these 2 represent the best brains gej has got in his present cabinet.Politically,they might not be savvy,but they sure are hardworking and are development conscious,it would be sad if he drops them,which is much unlikely.these are all newspaper speculations.

joecrack:

How can u leave out brilliant chaps like diezani and aganga,these 2 represent the best brains gej has got in his present cabinet.Politically,they might not be savvy,but they sure are hardworking and are development conscious,it would be sad if he drops them,which is much unlikely.these are all newspaper speculations.

Don't pay attention to articles like these. They are sponsored by politicians that are seeking these positions. Their goal is to influence the process to favor their principals. The fact that their names were not submitted by the PDP does not in any way indicate that they've been left out. First, they are not PDP members so there is no way the PDP would be submitting their names.