[size=14pt]FEC: Jonathan bars lobbyists[/size]
By Sola Adebayo, Warri, Published: Monday, 5 Apr 2010
     
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan may have barred lobbyists from his residence and office, less than 48 hours to the inauguration of the new Federal Executive Council.

Our correspondent learnt that Jonathan took the action amidst pressure from some governors, political and zonal leaders on him to assign juicy portfolios to ministers who are their ‘candidates.’

Sources said on Sunday that some of the governors, political and zonal leaders had temporarily shifted base to Abuja ahead of the inauguration of the cabinet either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

One of the sources in the Presidency said the lobbyists had been making frantic efforts to secure audience with Jonathan to discuss the distribution of portfolios to the new ministers.

The source said the godfathers were specifically averse to the appointment of their ‘candidates’ as ministers of state.

The source said Jonathan had limited the number of visitors to his home and office to those ready to discuss serious issues on national development.

Findings further revealed that the Acting President was not willing to discuss and make the allocation of the ministries public until Tuesday.

Our source said, “It may interest you to know that a lot of foremost politicians and business men as well as governors and leaders of the six zones of the country have moved to Abuja to influence the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to deploy their ‘candidates’ in particular ministries.

“The godfathers and some governors are in their various homes and hotels in Abuja , where they make frantic telephone calls to the Presidency, requesting to speak with the Acting President or to book an appointment to see him on the allocation of ministries on Tuesday.

“The lobbyists want ministries where their nominees would be able to patronise them by way of award of mouth-watering contracts and they are not leaving anything to chance at all.

All of them want full cabinet ministerial slots for their godsons.

“The pressure on the Acting President on the FEC matter is becoming unbearable and because of that, he (Jonathan) has limited his visitors to those on patriotic mission to discuss measures to move the country forward.

“The Acting President is interested in posting right persons into the right ministries. He is avoiding pressure from any godfather that will force him to take a wrong step.

“For the Acting President, it is like Tuesday should come very fast to enable him discharge this important national assignment to the best of his ability.

“But he has vowed not to see any big man, who is coming to discuss ministerial posting and he has warned his aides not to facilitate the visit of any unwanted guest to him.”

Efforts to speak with Jonathan’s media aide, Mr. Ima Niboro, did not succeed as he neither answered calls nor replied a text message sent to his telephone.

The text message sent to him reads, “Good day and happy Easter. Please confirm the report that prominent Nigerians, including governors, have moved to Abuja to influence the posting of their nominees into FEC to juicy ministries by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Kindly confirm also that the Acting President has barred lobbyists from his residence and office due to pressure. Thanks.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100405350187

. . ."The source said". . .
Tomorrow is Tuesday, e no far again! Lets see who will go in what position.