ABUJA, Nigeria – As President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural administration nears its constitutionally mandated deadline for cabinet nominations, inside sources reveal an unexpected mix of party rivals, former governors, and technocrats under consideration.
The eclectic list, an apparent step towards fostering national cohesion, is already being branded the ‘cabinet of political unity.’
According to insiders on Sunday, July 9, 2023, Tinubu’s proposal may comprise candidates from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and numerous apolitical experts.
The move has incited behind-the-scenes rivalry and negotiations over representative slots in key states.
In a bold deviation from past administrations, President Tinubu is poised to nominate an unprecedented five former governors to his cabinet.
The list, expected to be finalized in the next week, will also reportedly feature a 42-member cabinet and 20 Special Advisers.
The proposal represents a significant shift from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, with substantial portfolio reassignments and possible division of large ministries into smaller entities.
“The list represents an attempt to forge a new kind of government, one that transcends the barriers of party and prioritizes expertise and accomplishment,” a top-level source revealed.
Notably, state chapters and national secretariat of the APC have been largely sidelined in the nomination process, with governors and party leaders from opposition-held states stepping into the vacuum. This has led to multiple nominations from several states.
Among the governors being considered are Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State; Abdulahi Ganduje, formerly of Kano; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi; Muhammad Badaru Abubakar from Jigawa; and Nyesom Wike of Rivers.
In a notable move, former Ogun State governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel, is reportedly favored over Senator Ibikunle Amosun for the ministerial list, while Senator Tokunbo Abiru, currently representing Lagos East senatorial district, is being considered for the Finance Ministry.
Sampson Egom, leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Legacy Group, Cross River State, issued a statement urging President Tinubu to carefully select ministerial nominees, saying, “Let the party reward and promote this silent majority, who do not have political godfathers and godmothers.”
In a May press briefing, presidential spokesman Dele Alake promised a ministerial roll call within the first 30 days of Tinubu’s tenure.
But by Thursday, Alake had walked back this timeline, noting that the final decision rests solely with the President.
“When the President is good and ready, you will be the first to know about his intentions,” Alake assured correspondents in Abuja.
With only 20 days remaining of the 60 mandated by the constitution for the President to submit his ministerial list, there is growing anticipation about the final line-up, especially from the South-east region and the APC, where party members are looking to reap the fruits of their campaign efforts.
While many details remain unconfirmed, one thing seems clear: President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural administration is poised to be unlike any other in Nigeria’s history.
