Going by facts that emerged from President Goodluck Jonathan's seven-day retreat in Obudu Ranch, Cross River State, many politicians hoping to make the President's next cabinet are in for the shock of their lives.

An investigation on Friday by SATURDAY PUNCH showed that the President, who had begun nationwide consultations, would not limit the ministerial appointments to politicians.

It was gathered that majority of the current ministers and defeated candidates in the just concluded elections, who were very optimistic that the President would compensate them with ministerial appointments, would not make the list, which would be released two weeks after the May 29 inauguration.

SATURDAY PUNCH learnt that Peoples Democratic Party power brokers who are lobbying the President to have their nominees included in the new team might be ignored.

A source said the President was focusing on the private sector and Nigerians in the Diaspora to get technocrats, who could assist him in implementing his programmes.

Top on the President's programmes are the power sector reform, employment generation and agricultural development.

The constitution of the President's new cabinet has been generating a growing interest as it will signal the direction of his government in the next four years.

It was gathered that some members of the Presidential Advisory Council, which was set up by the President on assumption of office, had advised him against retaining non-performing ministers or appointing politicians, who could scuttle his programmes for Nigerians.

Ministers, the Peoples Democratic Party leaders and Senate President David Mark met with the President before he left the ranch on Thursday.

Many defeated candidates in the just concluded elections, particularly in the South-West, it was also learnt, had been making contacts with the Presidency to secure ministerial appointments.

Our correspondents gathered that although Jonathan was not against retaining some of the current cabinet members, the renewal of their appointments would be based on merit.

A source in the Presidency said that many of the ministers, who visited Obudu to lobby for reappointment, would be shocked when the ministerial list was eventually released.

He said, "The next four years will be critical for the country. The President cannot afford to fail as Nigerians will not listen to any excuse. Each minister will be evaluated and those who have not performed in the last one year will not come back.

"If they (the ministers) have not performed in the last one year, is there any guarantee that they will perform in the next four years? The President will take a cue from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who assembled the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (former finance minister) and Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili (former education minister)."

He said those who would make the ministerial list must be able to assist the President to reduce the inflation rate, generate employment and increase the Gross Domestic Product.

He stated that although the President would set up an all-inclusive government, ministerial appointments would be tools for political rehabilitation.

"Defeated candidates and politicians that are usually described as 'Any Government in Power' will not make the list. The President is looking for those who have names to protect and can deliver," he said.

A PAC member and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, urged the President to appoint qualified technocrats as ministers in his quest to transform the country.

Nwuche, in an interview with SATURDAY PUNCH in Port Harcourt, said that it would be very difficult for a country to attain substantial development without the contribution of technocrats.

He observed that Nigeria was blessed with human resources that could help to boost the political and economic fortunes of the country.

Nwuche noted that with the huge task ahead, only the best technocrats in the country would be good enough to be appointed into the next Federal Executive Council.

"We need the best for this country. Mr. President should appoint technocrats for the task ahead. This will help in the speedy development of the country," he stressed.

In an interview, the President's Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas, said Jonathan's next government would be "all-inclusive."

He said the President, in all his actions (appointments inclusive), would be God-fearing and pay "attention to fairness, equity and justice."