OUR REPORTER
Reasons for the delay in announcing President Bola Tinubu’s list of Ministerial nominees has come to the fore. The list which was expected at the Senate last Thursday, is still being awaited.
Sources indicate that two prominent supporters of the President in the list, former Governors Nyesom Wike and Abdullahi Ganduje, were not cleared by the Department of State Security.
It was also gathered that the President may have been the one who changed his mind concerning Ganduje following the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress. This was said to have propelled the President to nominate him as possible replacement for the former chairman.
Wike
The President delayed submission of the list so as to break the unsavoury news to the men himself and to nominate replacements.
At the meeting held on Sunday evening, Wike was reported to have lost his cool and engaged in a shouting match before he was allegedly restrained by Security operatives. A source said “Wike was yelling at the top of his voice”, claiming that after all the sacrifices and enemies he made to ensure Tinubu won the presidential election, this is not how to pay him back.
Sources at the presidency had last week hinted that the list was ready, but that a few adjustments were being made by the President. One of the sources disclosed that four names initially penciled down by the President in four states, have been withdrawn and replaced with new names.
It is not clear at this time if the President intends to push further for Wike’ clearance but Ganduje may have accepted his fate calmly.
Ganduje
The President has commenced the search for replacement nominees from Rivers and Kano States. Sources say Ganduje may have the option of nominating his replacement from Kano. It is not clear if the same courtesy will be extended to Wike who showed so much bitterness at the meeting.
The law provides a 60-day window for a new President to submit his nominees for Cabinet positions to the Senate for consideration. The period ends this week.
