http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201002133462637
Jonathan, governors in secret deal
By Our correspondent, Published: Saturday, 13 Feb 2010


Plans for the dissolution of the federal cabinet are at an advanced stage, Saturday Punch has learnt. The imminent dissolution, sources said, was part of a secret deal between the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and governors. The deal led to the emergence of Jonathan as Acting President after the governors had prevailed on the National Assembly to so resolve.

The other important term of the deal, which the Acting President has fulfilled already, is the sharing of the $2bn excess crude oil earnings among the federal and state governments.

On assumption of office on Wednesday as the Acting President, following a resolution of the National Assembly the previous day, Jonathan had redeployed the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, to the Ministry of Special Duties, while the erstwhile Labour and Productivity Minister, Chief Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, was asked to take over the AGF and justice ministry portfolios. The former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Ibrahim Kazaure, was also moved to the Ministry of Labour.

A reliable source in government told Saturday Punch authoritatively on Friday that the cabinet reshuffle would not result from the clamour of Nigerians for the removal of the minister, but in fulfilment of the deal Jonathan reached with the Governors Forum as part of the horse trading to make him the Acting President.

The Governors Forum had shown initial resistance to make Jonathan Acting President, following the over two-month absence of President Umaru Yar‘Adua, who has been undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia since November 23, 2009.

Chairman of the Governors‘ Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had insisted on behalf of his colleagues, while speaking with journalists after a meeting on January 6, 2010, that there was no vacuum.

”People should be called to order. We must warn anti-democratic elements. All the organs of government are working and functional at all levels. The President‘s health is improving,” Saraki had said.

But the governors made a volte-face and decided to throw their weight behind Jonathan after allegedly giving him two major conditions, which included the dissolution of the FEC and the sharing of funds from the Excess Crude Account that had not been touched since Yar‘Adua travelled on medical grounds.

The ECA currently holds $6.2bn, which the governors argued could be used to beef up the monthly allocations to the states in the event of funds shortage from the Federation Account.

Saturday Punch was informed that a good number of the governors were unhappy with the ministers, most of who were alleged to be battling the governors for the control of the ruling political parties in their respective states.

The governors were believed to be worried that some of the ministers were either planning to take over their positions or sponsor candidates to challenge them or their handpicked successors in the 2011 general election.

Our correspondent was told that Peoples Democratic Party governors, in particular, were not happy that they were not given the opportunity to nominate the ministers representing their respective states. Most of them claimed that the stiff opposition they were facing from the ministers was related to the issue of their nomination by those who are close to ailing President Umaru Yar‘Adua.

It was gathered that in many of the states, which have members of the PDP Board of Trustees, the governors were not consulted on the issue of nominating the ministers and even ambassadors.

For instance, in Ogun State, Governor Gbenga Daniel did not nominate the Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, who was elevated from his former position of Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS.

Last year, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State led a delegation of party stalwarts from the state immediately after defecting from the Peoples Progressive Alliance to the PDP, to President Yar‘Adua, to protest the appointment of his predecessor, Chief Achike Udenwa, as Minister of Commerce and Industry. Udenwa has since been battling Ohakim for the control of the PDP in Imo State.

In Abia State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief. Ojo Maduekwe, got his job because of his then position as the National Secretary of the PDP, while a former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, nominated Dr. Chuka Odom, an indigene of Imo State as the Minister of State for the FCT as his party‘s, PPA‘s representative in the Yar‘Adua government. At the moment, Kalu‘s relationship with Theodore Orji is not as good as it was.

Similarly, the present Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, from Cross Rovers State, owes his ministerial appointment to his former position as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP.

The situation is not different in Anambra State where a former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Dora Akunyili, was picked from Abuja without consultations with Governor Peter Obi who won election under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance.

Similarly in both Katsina and Bayelsa states which produced President Yar‘Adua and Jonathan respectively, the ministers were not the preferred choices of the governors. In Katsina, the current Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Abba Ruma, and Governor Ibrahim Shema are locked in a subtle contest for the governorship ticket in the next general election.

Also Mrs Dieziani Allison-Madueke is widely believed to be the nominee of Jonathan, who is now the Acting President. It is no secret that there is no love lost between Jonathan and Governor Timipre Sylva.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, believe that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, and the Minister of State for the Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, were imposed on them.

Equally, the Minister of State for Works, Mrs. Grace Ekpwire, a former a Head of Service in Delta State under the Administration of Chief James Ibori was nominated by the former governor.

Clearly, Uduaghan, a member of the PDP was not given the opportunity to nominate either of the two ministers from his state. While Orubebe is still a minister because Jonathan rescued him from the coordinated opposition of Uduaghan, Ajumogobia‘s situation is similar.

Although the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, representing Plateau State, is said to have been nominated by Governor Jonah Jang, it is believed that there is a crack in their relationship now.

Also among the category of ministers who do not owe their nominations to the governors of their states are the Minister of Education, Governor Sam Egwu, a former governor of Ebonyi State; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette; a former Secretary to the Federal Government; Senator Adamu Aliero, of the FCT, a former Governor of Kebbi State, who was in the Senate before the appointment.


Comments :

Jonathan has disputed that he is not an "Obasanjo''s boy", and that was also disputed by Mr Edwin Clark. But a few days ago, Jonathan had a secret meeting with Obasanjo in an undisclosed location in Abuja at the late hours of the night. It was reported that Obasanjo flew into Abuja late at night for the meeting. Considering all the atrocities and stealings Obasanjo committed during his era as the president, does he want Jonathan to heed to his advice and continue in his evil ways.

Posted by: mat johnson , on Saturday, February 13, 2010

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Nobody can mislead u if u follow your own steps. It iz always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice iz absolutely fatal.In 3 words I can sum up all the things Ive learned abt life: It goes on. GOOD LUCK JONATHAN YOU ARE THE DREAM OF OUR COUNTRY.NOTE THIS ALL EYES ON YOU. KEEP MOVING DONT LISTEN TO ANY BAGGER ON YOUR WAY. KEEP MOVING FOR THE BETTER CHANGE OF NIGERIAN. WE ARE SUFERING OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. PLS CALL US HOME.

Posted by: Utchman , on Saturday, February 13, 2010

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God please bring back Yar''adua. This Jonathan guy is as fickle as a leaf in the wind. These monsters will just keep tossing him about and he will be doing everybody''s wish except that of the common people of Nigeria. I don''t believe anything positive can come out of his leadership. We want Yar''adua back.

Posted by: Jaja , on Saturday, February 13, 2010

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Mr Acting President, If you trully want Nigerians to be sure you have our interest at heart ,please bring back the former EFCC chairman, RUHU RIbadu. I guarantee you wont regret this advice

Posted by: Kingskey George , on Saturday, February 13, 2010

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So the handing over to Jonathan was not even a constitutional victory after all. Nigeria, what a shame!! Our legal institution and constitution is useless!!

Posted by: xriz , on Saturday, February 13, 2010

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