It has been reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, has excluded Senator Godswill Akpabio from his list of new Ministers. It was learnt that Buhari is favourably disposed to retaining the current Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, who is also from Akwa Ibom State.
Buhari is also said to have been impressed by the Minister’s level-headedness, and for serving as a bridge-builder between the Federal and Akwa Ibom State Governments, since coming on board and helping to create stability and harmony among the two tiers of government.
A Presidential source, revealed that despite Buhari’s admiration of Udoma’s towering leadership and administrative credentials,
the Minister has made it clear that he will serve only one term and retire from public service, having put in many years serving
Nigeria and its people, in different spheres.
The decision by Udoma not to serve again in the new cabinet, leaves Buhari with the option of choosing his cabinet member from Akwa Ibom State, from the duo of Godswill Akpabio and Senator Ita Enang, who currently serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the President, on National Assembly Matters (Senate).
Although, Akpabio will eminently fit into the Office because of his position as a former Governor, and the strong support he mobilised for the All Progressives Congress, APC, which enabled the party to score over 40 percent in the just concluded Presidential election in the State.
However, the APC in the State which is supposed to recommend a Ministerial Candidate to the Presidency, is said to be frontally opposed to the candidature of Akpabio.
Recall that it was reported that ahead of the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, the race for cabinet appointments has begun. A former Military Administrator, three outgoing governors and 15 ministers are jostling for cabinet seats.
There were indications that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) may be zoned to the North- Central in favour of a Christian candidate. Besides, there is pressure on the President to revert to a 42-man cabinet structure as part of his pledge of inclusiveness. The new structure will include the constitutionally recommended 36 ministers from each state of the federation and six others representing each of the nation’s geopolitical zones — if Buhari embraces the idea.
The President is yet to give a commitment to the 42-man structure, The Nation has learnt. Lobbyists, including governors and ministers, have been mounting pressure on influential citizens to put in a word for them. Women are said to be demanding more ministerial jobs, including “strategic ministries”. The pressure is said to have accounted for the recommendation of a 42-man cabinet.
Source: Post Nigeria/Naija News
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