EXCLUSIVE: Oby Ezekwesili negotiating to be appointed Coordinating Minister for the Economy in Buhari govt

Feelers from ongoing consultations within APC circles on appointments in the incoming administration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, indicate that former Education Minister and leader of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Oby Ezekwesili, is currently in talks with APC leaders, towards being made Finance Minister.

A source within the APC hierarchy told The Nigerian Times that the former Minister turned activist has equally indicated interest in the post of Coordinating Minister for the Economy, a position created by the Goodluck Jonathan administration and currently held by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Our source however says that while the party’s leadership is not unwilling to consider Ezekwesili for the post of Finance Minister, they appear reluctant to make her the Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

It was not clear as at the time of filing this report, whether the party’s reluctance in this regard is as a result of not wanting to continue with the Coordinating Minister post in the new government, or whether it has penciled down some other person for the job.

Though Ezekwesili is not a card carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, she has for long been closely associated with key figures in the party.

She has equally been one of the harshest critics of the Jonathan administration, the high point of her hostility towards the government being her institution of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, in the wake of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in April last year.

She had severely criticised Jonathan’s handling of the Economy, accusing the government of mismanagement of resources.

Ezekwesili, a chattered accountant, was a key member of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s economic team, serving at a time as the pioneer head of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (also known as the Due Process Unit).

She later served as Minister of Solid Minerals and then Education, following which she proceeded to the World bank as Vice President Africa division, when President Obasanjo’s tenure ended in 2007.

Since her return from the World Bank assignment in 2012, there has been a seeming cold war between her and Okonjo-Iweala, with whom she shares the pedigree of having worked with the World bank.

Okonjo-Iweala, who holds a PhD in Regional Economics, was one of the Managing Directors of the World bank from 2007 to 2011, when she returned to Nigeria to take up appointment with the Jonathan government.

Many believe that the economy has done fairly well under her, given the peculiar record of it having become Afrca’s largest economy, producing annually, according to the Minister, about 1.6 million jobs.

Observers say that if Ezekwesili succeeds in her quest to have the management of the Economy vested on her, it may be time for her to show that she understands the Nigerian economy better than Okonjo-Iweala and the Jonathan administration.

Source: http://nigeriantimes.ng/news/buhari-oby-ezekwesili-negotiating-to-be-appointed-coordinating-minister-for-the-economy/

Either she gets it our Soludo does. Then we can compare them with NOI

Mynd44:
Either she gets it our Soludo does. Then we can compare them with NOI

The same Soludo who Sanusi rubbished? We don't have any other technocrat in Nigeria?

If APC preached change.. I think the last thing we want to see is recycled cabinet members. People who failed during the time of OBJ.

What was Oby's achievement as Minister of Education?

At least, NOI made Nigeria's economy the biggest in Africa...

Would like to see her she reacts to challenge to debate if and when she becomes a minister!

Grandma used to say "time not words, reveal people's real intentions. . . ."

No way. Honestly, I don't like that woman one bit. Does she want to perform wonders that she couldn't achieve in OBJ's regime?

Anyways, will Oby now drop her bringbackourgirls campaign? Even while the missing girls are still yet to be found. Will Oby lead protesters to Aso Rock if Buhari fails to find the missing girls?

All these mindless speculations should stop.

If this woman is being made a cordinating minister for economy, then we should expect nothing from GMB administration.

Sensitive posts should not be awarded to women, we can't run away from the fact that says what a man can do a woman can only try but not better. GMB should learn from GEJ and makes no mistake.

No beef whatsoever.

Let the position be vested on someone who is practical, whoever it may be as am tired of hearing Nigeria is the fastest growing economy, 3 millions jobs have been created etc still all we get to feel is hopelessness!

Happywoman:
Grandma used to say "time not words, reveal people's real intentions. . . ."

u are right.
lets watch and see

cyril83:
If this woman is being made a cordinating minister for economy, then we should expect nothing from GMB administration.

Sensitive posts should not be awarded to women, we can't run away from the fact that says what a man can do a woman can only try but not better. GMB should learn from GEJ and makes no mistake.

No beef whatsoever.

Dafuq!
Were you not born of a woman?

What happened to Fola Adeola, Ben Akabueze, Adebisi Adedeji, Edward Boyo, Gbenga Aluko, Mansur Muktar,etc
we need fresh blood and a more made in Nigeria ideas.

That office should be scrapped back to minister of finance. No more prime minister. And we need someone who is fresh with fresh ideas. An interview should be carried out for this critical position. A hard and grueling interview by the president, Vice President and some serious members of the society. The world has changed and economies all over are struggling. We need a serious, sincere and loyal Nigerian.

So, this and this alone have been the rope on which all that polity she heated up hinged?...

Omashe o!

We always knew it was all about seeking relevance in government. Truly, there are no sincere Nigerians in government.

However, she is the wrong person for the job. She failed as a minister under Obj and while serious minded technocrats where rubbing minds with their foreign colleagues on emerging policies.... she was on the streets of Abuja seeking girls kidnapped in chibok.

If she was sincere, she should remain in the opposition to check every government in power. Is she done hobnobbing with Obj?

Economies are properly managed by the central bank of Nigeria and not the minister of finance.
Oby will be a disaster.

mandarin:
What happened to Fola Adeola, Ben Akabueze, Adebisi Adedeji, Edward Boyo, Gbenga Aluko, Mansur Muktar,etc
we need fresh blood and a more made in Nigeria ideas.

Are you a mind reader? these were the names i wanted to write

So this is why she had been so vehemently against GEJ.

For nothing else then her own profit. When she falls miserably I wonder if she will publicly lash and criticize herself and her own government the way she did others?

Foolish woman

coordinating minister for the economy was created by Obasanjo not GEJ.

Plus Madam Oby is more interested to be made Aviation Minister, n not Finance.
She recently tweeted that Aviation could be the next big thing after telecom sector.

Wait n see...

she will be a total disaster, oh well, anything that ruins this zoological area and bring it down to its knees, am all for it.

Then we finish the die hard ones later.

Frankenstein:
No way. Honestly, I don't like that woman one bit. Does she want to perform wonders that she couldn't achieve in OBJ's regime?

Anyways, will Oby now drop her bringbackourgirls campaign? Even while the missing girls are still yet to be found. Will Oby lead protesters to Aso Rock if Buhari fails to find the missing girls?

i dont think she will activate the bring back our girls campaign just yet. Why? i think she believes in the sincerity and seriousness of the govt(to search for the girls and fight terrorism)under GMB than GEJ....and most people do. GEJ opened himself to alot of attacks and harsh critisms because he seemed not to care so much...he was lethargic on some important issues...not "giving a damn" until he recieved verbal lashes...from people(Malalas of the world).

This shouldn't make front page, as this Source is not a credible one.

He's be stup2d not to give it to NOI

Oby Ezekwesili? What does she want again? After ruining the country with Obasanjo?
The woman looks so much like Obasanjo, you know what I mean

kosovo:



At least, NOI made Nigeria's economy the biggest in Africa...

How about a public interview for this people, so we can really know who's up to the task? At least that's what we graduates face....it wouldn't be a bad idea if all this job seekers face the same.

Ibos are funny people.
You think Tinubu will put Ibo in anything to do with finance or economy

I don't wanna believe this until its manifest
Buh obj could get it for her

Buh she will be total failure
One is to have certificate
One is to be practically sound

kosovo:


The same Soludo who Sanusi rubbished? We don't have any other technocrat in Nigeria?

If APC preached change.. I think the last thing we want to see is recycled cabinet members. People who failed during the time of OBJ.

What was Oby's achievement as Minister of Education?

At least, NOI made Nigeria's economy the biggest in Africa...

Brother I get your drift but, if you may note it and not be biased, Soludo is a very intelligent guy. In times like thes, experience counts a lot. I guess you know what Soludo did to our banks. Don't sentiments becloud your judgements. If I were GMB, I would really evaluate Soludo and figure where I can place him.