Indications emerged in Abuja on Thursday that the minor cabinet reshuffle carried out by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday came to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party as a shock.

In the shake-up, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), was moved to the Ministry of Special Duties while the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), took over as AGF.

Our correspondent learnt that the party’s leadership, including its National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, was not consulted before the changes were effected.

A source close to the party’s leadership told our correspondent that Jonathan did not raise the matter with the members of the National Working Committee of the party when they visited him in his office on Tuesday night.

The visit took place a few hours after members of the National Assembly passed their resolutions empowering Jonathan to assume the office of President in an acting capacity.

Ogbulafor and members of the NWC had visited the Acting. President at the Vice-President’s Lodge, where they pledged their loyalty to him.

The PDP source said, “We were there for about two hours in the night and throughout our discussion, he (Jonathan) did not raise the matter with us.

“That was why some of us were making calls to journalists on Wednesday to confirm the information that some ministers had been dropped.

“As I told you, we were with the Actingg. President, but the members of the NWC were not told. It came to us as a surprise. This can be verified from some of the calls which some of us made to you members of the media, trying to ascertain whether what we heard was true.”

“It is not that the party is against what the Acting President has done; but in the past, the party was always in the know.

“He is the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief, the buck stops with him.

“We certainly will not control him on how he does his things; he is in charge, but it is fair to let us know, at least for an input.”

Asked if the party was informed about the three governors that left the country on Wednesday for Saudi Arabia to brief President Umaru Yar’Adua on the development, the source said the PDP was not aware of the visit.

The governors are Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

The source said the visit was not arranged by the PDP but could have been the initiative of members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the entire Federal Executive Council may be dissolved next week.

A highly-placed Presidency source disclosed on Thursday that the Ag. President Jonathan may have decided to constitute a new cabinet after an extensive consultation with various stakeholders. The move, it was learnt, would aim at removing cabinet members suspected of divided loyalty, and to inject new blood into government machinery.

U seem to act very fast for one who was a member of a very slow administration

If this is true Ojo Maduekwe must be piss.ing in his pants.

Meanwhile, from the look of things it doesnt look like Jonathan is a dullard after all.

Imeobong:

Indications emerged in Abuja on Thursday that the minor cabinet reshuffle carried out by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday came to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party as a shock.

In the shake-up, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), was moved to the Ministry of Special Duties while the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), took over as AGF.

Our correspondent learnt that the party’s leadership, including its National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, was not consulted before the changes were effected.

A source close to the party’s leadership told our correspondent that Jonathan did not raise the matter with the members of the National Working Committee of the party when they visited him in his office on Tuesday night.

The visit took place a few hours after members of the National Assembly passed their resolutions empowering Jonathan to assume the office of President in an acting capacity.

Ogbulafor and members of the NWC had visited the Acting. President at the Vice-President’s Lodge, where they pledged their loyalty to him.

The PDP source said, “We were there for about two hours in the night and throughout our discussion, he (Jonathan) did not raise the matter with us.

“That was why some of us were making calls to journalists on Wednesday to confirm the information that some ministers had been dropped.

“As I told you, we were with the Actingg. President, but the members of the NWC were not told. It came to us as a surprise. This can be verified from some of the calls which some of us made to you members of the media, trying to ascertain whether what we heard was true.”

“It is not that the party is against what the Acting President has done; but in the past, the party was always in the know.

“He is the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief, the buck stops with him.

“We certainly will not control him on how he does his things; he is in charge, but it is fair to let us know, at least for an input.”

Asked if the party was informed about the three governors that left the country on Wednesday for Saudi Arabia to brief President Umaru Yar’Adua on the development, the source said the PDP was not aware of the visit.

The governors are Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

The source said the visit was not arranged by the PDP but could have been the initiative of members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the entire Federal Executive Council may be dissolved next week.

A highly-placed Presidency source disclosed on Thursday that the Ag. President Jonathan may have decided to constitute a new cabinet after an extensive consultation with various stakeholders. The move, it was learnt, would aim at removing cabinet members suspected of divided loyalty, and to inject new blood into government machinery.

If that happens, it may be a sign of good thing to come and confirm that our man Yar A'failure ain't come back as we all know that the man is long 'dead' even while he was here.

That said, PDP is an EVIL PARTY, and I will like them to be voted out at the next election at all leves, be it local, state and federal. Politicians need to be sent a message that Power belongs to the people and not to them.

FEC were only protecting their jobs when they voted that Yar A'clueless is fit to govern when they have not seen him, heard from him or have medical report  of someone who has been away in hospital for over 2months at the time. He could have been dead or mental or even kidnapped.

Nigeria will hail thee.

Dora Akunyili has rebranded herself on her speaking out the truth. May God continue to be with her and protect her and her family. She is a true patriot.

OMO IBO:

If this is true Ojo Maduekwe must be piss.ing in his pants.

Meanwhile, from the look of things it doesnt look like Jonathan is a dullard after all.

ofcourse, i don't think he is, he might even be a better president than OBJ

Imeobong:

ofcourse, i don't think he is, he might even be a better president than OBJ

Not so fast my people,
the watchword should be cautious optimism.
after all na the same papa and mama,PDP naim born Yaradull and Goodluck.
Besides,na d same man OBJ handpick dem 2

Lets just hope and pray that PDP blood will not run in his vein.

Wait what do pdp want again? Do they mean that he must consult them for every actiös he wants to take? Is he their toy? They want to control him again. Dis naija self. Excuse me pass jare.

Kx:

Not so fast my people,
the watchword should be cautious optimism.
after all na the same papa and mama,PDP naim born Yaradull and Goodluck.
Besides,na d same man OBJ handpick dem 2

Lets just hope and pray that PDP blood will not run in his vein.

mba!!!! by God;s grace he will. Have unot heared of Sullivan Chime and Chimaroke Nnamani? Nnamani handpick Chime, and though he could remote-control him, but afterhis swearing in, he dealt with Nnamani,and today he's one of the best Governor in Nigeria. Goodluck at the end of the day might be one of the best President in the world. An example is the cabinet resuffle, according to PDP, he did not consult them, which I think is a sign of more surprise awaiting PDP. If he can surprise PDP this early I think more surprise(s) await PDP in the coming months.

pls they shld be dissolved and their tenure as ministers probed.this ministers have siphoned and embezzled billions of dollars,meant for meaningful development.

[size=16pt]UP JONATHAN GOODLUCK! [/size]

Kx:

Not so fast my people,
the watchword should be cautious optimism.
after all na the same papa and mama,PDP naim born Yaradull and Goodluck.
Besides,na d same man OBJ handpick dem 2

Lets just hope and pray that PDP blood will not run in his vein.

I think he can do well or more than OBJ for three reasons:
1. Since Obasanjo is his mentor, as far as Nigerian politics is concerned, Goodluck has the best hand.
2. For Obj to be relevant in the high levels of Nigerian politics, Jonathan (his guy) has to do well.
3. If PDP should dream of any relevance in 2011, this Good administration MUST succeed.

So in any case, if Goodluck succeed, then its good for Nigeria. For the issue of VP and ministers - You can't beat Obj in discovering new guys (good _{Soludo, Ezekwesili, Dora, Ribadu, Elrufia, etc} or not _{yar'adua, Anaconda}

ayo84:

pls they shld be dissolved and their tenure as ministers probed.this ministers have siphoned and embezzled billions of dollars,meant for meaningful development.

starting with Ojo Madueke

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the entire Federal Executive Council may be dissolved next week.

A highly-placed Presidency source disclosed on Thursday that the Ag. President Jonathan may have decided to constitute a new cabinet after an extensive consultation with various stakeholders. The move, it was learnt, would aim at removing cabinet members suspected of divided loyalty, and to inject new blood into government machinery.

let us keep fingers crosssed.

ojo maduekwe should be removed and probed for spending N2b+ on foreign trips in 2009.That man is a waste pipe.

ojesymsym:

U seem to act very fast for one who was a member of a very slow administration

Well the office of the Vice President is very limiting. There's not much he could have done then. But now, the ball is in his court . . .

Meanwhile it's still too early to rejoice. Let's not forget about Nigerian leaders and their 'initial gira gira' syndrome!

Kx:

Not so fast my people,
the watchword should be cautious optimism.
after all na the same papa and mama,PDP naim born Yaradull and Goodluck.
Besides,na d same man OBJ handpick dem 2

Lets just hope and pray that PDP blood will not run in his vein.

I believe most Nigerians have not met characters like Jonathan before or they just aren't used to his type, hence the surprise. Jonathans type is very common in the ND, especially among Ijaws (eg Tompolo). They call them "slow poison" or "gentle jack".

Jonathan has the potential to fundamentally change the country. So far, I love what I'm seeing.