The Buhari Hotlist & Other Musings(1)

The list is finally out! President Buhari has released his version of A Few Good Men that he believes will be the best group of Nigerians to work with. Surprisingly, as against his previous declarations, the President didn’t load his proposed cabinet with technocrats as we expected, in fact I was utterly disappointed with some names submitted to Senator Bukola Saraki for ministerial positions in the new Change Government. 

Buhari, since his ascension to power for the second time has been very loquacious of late, mostly about how bad things are, how to root out corruption, fight Boko Haram, whether or not to appoint a cabinet and perhaps why he won’t interfere with whatever is happening in the National Assembly- most of this talk has been more outside the country than in. There has been no hefty statement about the Economy, Foreign Relations (except for the much celebrated US trip of which he returned with nothing substantial), Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, Infrastructure or Job Creation. Topmost on his agenda has been mostly Oil, Corruption and Travels abroad. He has also been assuring and re-assuring Nigerians that he is not in a hurry to pick ministers because he wants to work with credible men. It seems this it.

My recent interactions with many political idealists on the subject matter of the form and structure of Buhari’s government has been met with almost similar conclusions. Some believe the ruling party – APC never envisaged they will actually win the Presidency during the April General Elections and were unprepared to implement easily the demands of a government at whatever level. Many believe APC is actually structurally deficient and is only attempting at this time to form a cohesive structure owing to its seemingly mismatched composition of ex-PDP strongmen and ACN/APGA loyalists. But now the list has been unveiled and I personally see no surprise entry among them. Kayode Fayemi and Babatunde Fashola were a no-brainer so no surprise there, though I expect Fayemi may be allocated the Ministry of Interior and Fashola, the FCT or Attorney-General if Rotimi Akeredolu doesn’t make the cut. We all expected Ogbonnaya Onu would be the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, that didn’t work out and tongues wagged ceaselessly about Buhari’s plan for the East, but he’s on the list apparently to seal ANPP’s partnership in the APC marriage. I project Agriculture for Onu. Chris Ngige made it to the list, obviously there was nowhere else to go after losing the Senate seat to Uche Ekwunife.

Seems APC will be appointing a new National Publicity Secretary with Lai Mohammed’s name appearing on the list and I wonder what portfolio he will handle? I hope it’s not Information though. Audu Ogbeh, former PDP Chairman & ACN/APC leader is on the list also as one of the three ex-PDP warlords selected to be part of the President’s Men. I am glad to see the name of Senator Udo Udoma, a seasoned Economist & former Chairman of the SEC on the list. Perhaps he may be allotted Minister of Planning or Minister of Finance. Rotimi Amaechi’s name on that list is nothing short of a compensational move for his prime role as Buhari’s Campaign Director during the elections. I’m guessing his giant & impressive strides in the area of Education in Rivers State may give him the Education Ministry portfolio. Ironically, if he does clinch that position, he will be taking over from his political arch-enemy and successor Governor Nyesom Wike. He may have handed over Rivers State to Wike, but if it pleases the president, Wike may be handing over historically to him. I honestly pray Auntie Abike Dabiri is on the “Supplementary Ministerial List” for the Ministry of Information, there will be nobody better at least at that level.

The concluding part of this article will be published after President releases the remaining names of his Ministers to the public