Babatope, Na’Abba, Kure, Others Tipped For Minister!

A gale of protests is trailing the short-listing of ministerial nominees by President Goodluck Jonathan for the 12 vacant slots in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Before the sack of nine ministers recently, there had been three vacancies.

Former Minister of Defence Mohammed Haliru Bello and former Minister of Youth Development Inuwa Abdulkadir were relieved of their jobs. Minister of State for Health Dr. Ali Pate resigned.

The President is believed to have short-listed some names for ministerial appointments, especially in some of the states being controlled by the Group of 7 (G-7) governors, who have been locked in a bitter struggle with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership for its control.

It was gathered that some of the nominees were being considered on political grounds to checkmate the “rebellion” of the G-7 governors, who have been sidelined in the nominations, unlike what obtained in the past when the governors were consulted.

The list includes ex-Speaker Umar Ghali Na’aba (Kano); ex-Governor Abdulkadir Kure (Niger); Senator Umar Gada (Sokoto); a former Executive Secretary of PTDF, Alh. Hamizu Mai Rago (a loyalist of the VP), former Minister of State for Works Isaiah Balat (Kaduna); ex-Minister Aliyu Idi Hong and ex-Governor Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

The others are a former Managing Director of Africa Petroleum (AP), Bukar Abba Gana, Hon. Muhammed Kumalia and Nicholas Msheliza(Borno); ex-Minister of Transport Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade(Osun).

It was gathered that a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George and some party leaders are lobbying the President to give Lagos the Southwest’s slot, which former Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru occupied.

According to the permutations of the Presidency, the appointment of Na’Abba, Kure, Gada (a personal friend of Jonathan), Hong or Haruna would checkmate some of the G-7 governors.

The party structure in the seven states will also be taken away from the aggrieved governors ahead of the “final onslaught” by the new ministers.

There have been intrigues and protests in some states, including Kaduna, Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s political base.

It was learnt that the people of Southern Kaduna have been kicking against the appointment of a minister from Kaduna Central where Governor Ramalan Yero hails from.

Southern Kaduna indigenes are calling for ministerial compensation, having lost the governorship ticket with the death of ex-Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa in a plane crash.

Although Sambo favours his political son, Hamizu Mai Rago, for the slot, it may backfire politically for Jonathan because of likely protest votes from Southern Kaduna in 2015, observers said.

Some strategists were said to have drawn the President’s attention to the recent political inroad of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into Southern Kaduna.

A source said: “The GMD of NNPC,Andrew Yakubu, is from Southern Kaduna, but the belief is that his is a professional calling”.

“They want the President to ensure religious balance. But the VP’s camp sees Mai Rago as an asset to the President in 2015 because he is a grassroots mobiliser. No decision has been taken on Kaduna’s slot,” he said, pleading not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter.

On Niger State, a source admitted that the President’s strategists had concluded that only Kure could checkmate the leader of the G-7 governors, “Chief Servant” Babangida Aliyu.

Apart from ethnic balancing, Kure(from Nupe Kingdom) is said to command a large following and enjoys the confidence of ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and some political heavyweights, who have grouses against Aliyu.

Kure’s short-listing has, however, created rumpus within the PDP in the state because his wife, Hajiya Zainab Kure, is a senator.

Another source said: “The position of Niger State PDP stakeholders is that a family cannot occupy a ministerial seat and hold senatorial ticket at the same time.

“If we are preaching equity, we must do with clean hands. There are others from Nupeland who are qualified to be minister.

“There is also a security issue on Kure bordering on alleged rift between him and a one-time Federal Controller of Housing and Urban Development in Niger State, Adekoya S. Olatunji, over access road to E8 and E10 Aliyu Makama Road, GRA, Minna.

“A petition has been sent to Governor Babangida Aliyu by Olatunji, asking security agencies to investigate alleged assault on him by the ex-governor. Some stakeholders are already capitalising on this misunderstanding to move against Kure.”

In Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore’s camp is said to be opposed to Babatope’s appointment, based on age.

Omisore is seeking the President’s nod to nominate a ministerial candidate.

But the liberal PDP members are pushing for the appointment of Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, who is believed to be acceptable to all factions.

The fear of PDP members in Kano is that Na’aba is a radical who may be difficult to manage.

“Although Na’Abba can change the political atmosphere in Kano and challenge Kwankwaso, he may not be able to wrest the state from the governor,” a source said, adding:

“Some PDP leaders have reservations on Na’aba as a radical leader. We hope the party will not end up being polarised before 2015.”

In Adamawa, it is a straight fight between Jibril Aminu’s faction and others.

A former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Idi Hong, is said to be Aminu’s political right hand man, but some stakeholders are rooting for Governor Boni Haruna to curtail the “excesses” of Nyako and ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Party leaders in Sokoto are displeased with the President’s insistence on giving his friend, Senator Umar Gada, a ministerial slot.

They alleged that the preference for Gada might have accounted for the “disgraceful” exit of two ministers from Sokoto State.

It was learnt that the President had wanted Gada on board since 2010, but stakeholders had always opposed his choice.

“Since all the nominees from Sokoto State have disappointed him, the President is giving Gada a priority. Actually, Gada was favoured to be the minister of FCT in 2010, but some senators persuaded Jonathan to give it to Sen. Mohammed Bala, who was from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),” a source said.

Some PDP leaders in the Southwest were alleged to have queried why George should shop for a candidate.

There were indications that the President might get at least two lists from the Lagos PDP.

As at press time, it was unclear when the President would send the list to the Senate.

A Presidency source simply said: “We are just fine-tuning the list. We may send it to the Senate any moment from now.”