ABUJA, Nigeria — Prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and veteran journalist Dele Momodu, has delivered a stinging critique of President Bola Tinubu’s newly appointed ministerial team, claiming that it falls significantly short in terms of quality when compared to the cabinet of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari.
In his recent appearance on the podcast “Mic On,” on Friday, August 11, 2023, Momodu bemoaned the lack of familiar faces in Tinubu’s administration, indicating that many of the appointees are unrecognizable figures.
This stands in stark contrast to earlier governments, which were often characterized by a roster of noteworthy and reputable ministers.
Expressing his disappointment, Momodu said, “Every leader has what it takes to be a good president if he has good advisers and listens to them. It’s just like a journalist without corrections, he will always carry fake news.”
He lamented the perceived decline in the standard of ministerial appointments, saying, “What I expected was a star-studded cabinet, I like to recall myself with sweet memories of Ibrahim Babangida’s cabinet in those days.”
Highlighting the renowned names that once graced the cabinets of past administrations, he listed figures such as Akinyele, Bolaji Akinyemi, Bolasodun Ajibola, Tai Solarin, and Wole Soyinka, among others.
Momodu also took aim at the hurried replacement of a candidate undergoing screening, terming it as “disgraceful”. He emphasized that such actions suggest that due diligence was not carried out during the appointment process.
Drawing comparisons, Momodu heaped praise on the originality and effectiveness of ministers under the PDP reign, such as Okonjo-Iweala, Ezekwesili, Nubu Ribadu, and especially Nasir El-Rufai during his tenure under the PDP, whom he referred to as the “original El-Rufai.”
As political pundits weigh in on President Tinubu’s ministerial picks, it is evident that the new administration will have to navigate heightened scrutiny in its bid to steer Nigeria in its chosen direction.
