Nuhu Ribadu , Almakura , Akume, Amos  Gizo Top List Of Ministerial Nominees Of Tinubu Cabinet

Yakubu Busari

The president-elect must filter all that he gets as lists of nominees for appointment on a screen of truth and take only credible people that Nigerians would readily identify with. He must avoid a number of people considered as party faithful who will be presented to him for appointment as either ministers or heads of government agencies because they have been compromised.

In the month of March, which wrapped up the 2023 general elections with the governorship and state assembly polls, the country has been drenched in a national debate over who should make the list of the yet-to-be-constituted cabinet of president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is gradually culminating in an intrepid confrontation among stakeholders of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and some analysts who, as usual, have started setting agenda for the incoming government.

It is the month of March, which literally made it instructive for the incoming Tinubu presidency, as party stakeholders are already engaged in intense lobbying for key positions in government, including ministerial and other juicy appointments. This, no doubt, is healthy for any democracy.

As it is ,chief (Dr) Amos Gizo from plateau state , Sen. Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state, Air marshall Sadique  Abubakar of Bauchi state and Sen.George Akuma of Benue state are major contenders for the  position of ministers of the Federal Republic of  Nigeria just as the names of other close and trusted political allies are being speculated from across the nation.

For Dr Amos, he is a trained teacher and a distinguished journalist whose brand of journalism respects diversity, protects national interest and upholds integrity ,equity and justice. As an astute politician,Gizo was a member of the Constituent Assembly. He was the pioneer National Youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party ,(PDP) Chief Gizo contested the gubernatorial seat in plateau under the NDP.

But the lingering impression of a presidency will be largely determined by the selection of cabinet members. Most of the men and women often chosen as cabinet members are personally known to the president. Some are among his closest friends, while others have just finished running his campaign. All have reputations that are easy to check out. Besides, the historical record shows that the president is given considerable latitude by the public, the press, and even the legislature.

Ironically, while these high-profile appointments are the easiest every new president would ever make, personnel mistakes, sometimes serious errors, have plagued them even before they actually take office. These lessons should be heeded early in the transition process if the president-elect must avoid the accusation of drifting from his own campaign promises.

No doubt, Tinubu’s table may have been already jam-packed with memos and lists of names of persons considered as qualified for appointments from states, zones, regions and even individual party bigwigs.

These are selfless and charismatic personalities,who since there political surgeon have constantly identified with the president elect,from AD,ACD to, ACN and to APC.They have served the party in various  capacities.

The composition of his cabinet should be all-inclusive and fairly distributed across the Geopolitical Zones, with high sensitivity on religious consideration(s). It is not a hidden fact that, the President-elect, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Tinubu, and his Vice, Dr. Kashim Shettima, are both of the same faith.

This combination has attracted so much comments and criticism within the political space and in reference to this, the president-elect is advised to follow sue with President Obasanjo in appointing his cabinet, being from the South West and his Vice president from North East, the SGF was from South-south, Senate president from South East, Speaker from North West and the chairman from North Central.

If this is followed and not minding selfish players, this will bring an immediate reconciliation and the perceived mistrust will definitely disappear.

TINUBU’S CABINET MAY INCLUDE THE UNDER-LISTED NAMES

No less than 25 names have been tipped to be in the cabinet of Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu after he alluded that competence rather than politics will weigh heavily on his choice of ministers.

The job of Nigeria’s president easily passes as one of the toughest in the entire globe and Asiwaju has declared that he is not unmindful of the challenges he and his team face.

Thus, to effectively discharge his duties as provided by the constitution, he said he would hit the ground running by constituting a cabinet that will help him to run the machinery of the Nigerian state effectively.

The names that are being insinuated to make the renewed hope vision tenable are:

 Babatunde Fashola

Among the names frequently mentioned to format part of Tinubu’s government is Fashola. He’s tipped as a favorite for the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, based on his vast experience, loyalty, age and strength of character.

The legal luminary served under the President -elect as commissioner and chief of staff respectively during his time as governor,Lagos  state. Under Buhari’s regime, Fashola was first appointed as Minister of power,works and Housing and now as Minister of works and Housing having carved out Power.

Fashola served as the director, election,planning and monitoring of the Presidential campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai a former Director General  of the Bureau for Public Enterprises and Minister  of the Federal    Territory,Abuja (FCT) who is serving out his second and final term as Kaduna state governor ,El-Rufai is primed for appointment into the Tinubu’s cabinet as the President-elect himself told the Kaduna governor last year that he should jettison the idea of leaving the country after seeing out his tenure but stay to serve the country.

WALE EDUN

The former Lagos state commissioner for finance was nominated by Tinubu for ministerial appointment during President Buhari but was scuttled by certain power play intrigues. Now that his master will be at helm of affairs, Edun is in a vantage position to be part of the cabinet.

DELE ALAKE

Alake was commissioner for information and strategy to the then governor of Lagos, Asiwaju,  between 1999-2007,and  has remained with him as media aide. He is currently the director of media and communication of the APC Presidential campaign council .Having remained and worked with Tinubu despite leaving office for more than 15 years,the ace media practitioner and public affairs analyst is likely to format Tinubu’s cabinet.

FESTUS KEYAMO

Keyamo  is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and present Minister

Of state for Labour and  Productivity, the Delta born constitutional Lawyer had served as the spokesman for President Buhari’s reelection in 2019,a role he replicated in 2023.

There are clear signs that Keyamo will be part of the next cabinet. He’s expected to bring his wealth of experience to bare in governance.

HANATU MUSA:

Hanatu a lawyer and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria is the deputy spokesperson of the APC Presidential campaign council, working hand in hand Keyamo and others on the media team to portray the Jagaban’s candidacy in good light.

CHIEF DR. AMOS GIZO

A trained teacher and a distinguished journalist whose brand of journalism respects diversity, protects national interest and upholds integrity ,equity and justice. As an astute politician,Gizo was a member of the Constituent Assembly. He was the pioneer National Youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party ,(PDP) Chief Gizo contested the gubernatorial seat in plateau under the NDP.

He was Plateau state chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) .Due to his close fraternity with Jagaban, he was made the national chairman of the 36 states plus the federal capital territory, Abuja chairmen and was a key player in the merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Due to Chief Gizo’s intuitive political calculations, he spearheaded the victory of Asiwaju by delivering plateau delegates to his principal during the presidential primaries , this was done against the wishes of the state governor, Whose allegiance and support was for Rotimi Amaechi. Gizo was secretly saddled with the responsibility of marketing Tinubu and creating awareness within the 19 Northern states on the take- aways of the Tinubu Presidency. This move succeeded in defusing the tension the choice of Senator Kashim Shettimma created. Gizo ensured Jagaban won in his 99.9% Christian-dominated polling unit and ward, a feat he maintained up to the local government level.

Gizo’s loyalty for over two decades couple with his political sagacity and capacity to deliver is tipped by many to make the list.

MALLAM NUHU RIBADU

Ribadu is a former Nigerian well decorated super cop .He was the Chairman of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force..He was the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was the Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in 2011. His aspiration was believed to had been fully funded by the President-elect. Ribadu is one person who has the ears of Asiwaju and is expected to be part of his cabinet.

AIR MARSHALL SADIQUE ABUBAKAR (Rtd)

Sadique Baba Abubakar is a retired Air Marshall in the Nigerian Airforce. He served as chief of Air staff 2015-2021. Following his meritorious service and outstanding performance, he was rewarded with an ambassadorial appointment. He contested and won the APC primaries in Bauchi but lost at the general elections. Due to Sadique superfluous qualities ,he’s likely to be rewarded with a ministerial position.

HADIZA BALA USMAN

Hadiza is a daughter of a renowned historian, she was a former chief of staff to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,she also served as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA. She is currently the Deputy Director General in charge of Administration of the APC Presidential campaign council. Hadiza is expected to be part of Tinubu’s cabinet.

IBIKUNLE AMOSUN

A former governor of Ogun state and serving senator representing Ogun central senatorial district. Amosun stepped down  for Tinubu at the presidential primary election of the APC. He went ahead and supported Tinubu to Achieve his long term ambition. He is set to be part of Asiwaju’s cabinet

GBOYEGA OYETOLA

Oyetola is the immediate past governor of Osun state and close ally of Tinubu who is believed to have family ties with the President -elect.Oyetola who was chief of staff to the current minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is expected is expected to be in Tinubu’s cabinet depending on the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement.

NYESOM WIKE

The outgoing governor of Rivers state, though not a member of the APC,he is primed to be a member of the next APC government’s cabinet. This is as a result of the role he played in ensuring the crisis in PDP festered while on the other had helped Tinubu by winning Rivers state against all odds.

BEN AYADE

The outgoing governor of Cross River and former Senator is the leader of the APC in the South South state.,Ayade,who lost in a senatorial contest of February 25th 2023,is poised to be compensated with a cabinet office.

TANKO AL-MAKURA

Al-Makura is a former governor of Nassarawa and a serving senator representing the southern district of Nassarawa state in red chamber, is a political ally of the president- elect. Having lost in his bid to retain the senatorial Sealand with his man as the president elect, there are strong indications that he would be engaged in the next cabinet

ATIKU BAGUDU

The outgoing governor of Kebbi state and chairman of the Progressives governors Forum played a critical role in the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu both as APC presidentia candidate and now incoming President. He’s undoubtedly the leader of the party in Kebbiand may be in the cabinet of Tinubu.

GEORGE AKUME

Akume is a former governor of Benue state who served when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was the helmsman in Lagos between 1999-2007;he is the current minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs. He was elected into the Senate for 3 terms in one of which he was a minority leader. Akume has been an ally of Jagaban since 2011when he joined the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

He enjoys the advantage of having delivered for Jagaban in Benue,as such, he is expected to be rewarded.

IBRAHIM MASARI

Masari, a former national welfare secretary of the APC ,stood as a placeholder before the nomination of Sen.Kashim Shettimma as a substantive Vice Presidential candidate of the party. The confidence reposed

In him by Asiwaju and his willingness to play a placeholder role place him for consideration  into the next cabinet.