Why Buhari Did Not Re-appoint 18 Ex-Ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday forwarded his ministerial list to the Nigerian senate.

The release of the much anticipated list came 55 days after the president was inaugurated for a second term in office.  

A look at the list showed that 18 ministers in the president’s first cabinet were not reappointed into the next level cabinet.

Some of those ministers are the Minister of State, Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalong; Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe; Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole amongst others.

The WHISTLER in this report, speculates on possible reasons these ministers did not make it to Buhari’s list.

1.     AUDU OGBEH – (BENUE) MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

The elder statesman is believed to have done well in the bringing about the rice revolution and stability of fertilizer supply.

But the Benue man had been immerged in controversy over some of his utterances and actions as minister of Agriculture attracting widespread condemnation from Nigerians.

The ex-minister who is now 71 is believed to be too old to man a ministry that requires youth and vibrancy.

Buhari may have sacrificed him to bring in George Akume who lost his senatorial seat allegedly because of his support for Buhari. Akume also sided with the federal government against his state over the enactment of the anti-grazing law which led to violence between herdsmen and farmers.  

2.     IBE KACHIKWU – (DELTA) MINISTER OF STATE, PETROLEUM

The ex-minister is a shocking omission from the ministerial list because of what he had done in office. He is one of those believed to have shown competence in office.

Although the ex-minister may have done well in the ministry, some have said the president dropped him because he is not in charge of affairs of the ministry.

Also, the issues he had with the former Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru in 2017 is said to have been part of the reasons he was not reappointed.

3.     MOHAMMED DAN ALI: MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Not only has he been docile and almost indolent in office, but his public interventions in national crises have heightened insecurity.

On the Fulani/herdsmen crisis in Benue, he had blamed the anti-grazing law recently enacted by the state for the killings.

He was also unable to contain the situation of bandits killing innocent people in his home state of Zamfara and Sokoto states.

4.     BARR. ADEBAYO SHITTU – (OYO) MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION

Shittu’s handling of the dispute between the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and MTN Nigeria left much to be desired. The NCC was sadly excluded from the negotiation process after an out-of-court settlement was agreed.

He came under heavy attack after he made a proposal to impose a 10 per cent tax on phone calls, text messages, data and more, which according to him, would help enhance telecommunication services in the country.

He was also alleged to have skipped the compulsory one-year national service

Barely three weeks to the end of Buhari’s second term, he had no fundamental policy achievement.

5.     DR. OKECHUKWU ENELAMAH (MINISTER OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT)

Enelemah at the 2019 budget defense, was accused by the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, of diverting N42 billions of public funds to finance the activities of a private company (SEZ Investment Company.)

He was also accused of duplicating and wasting resources through the creation of the Nigerian Office of Trade Negotiation based on false memo or advice to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

6.     SOLOMON DALUNG (MINISTER OF SPORTS)

Under Dalung, Nigeria’s sports have suffered, and Nigeria has suffered international embarrassments due to his incompetence.

 Nigeria was hit with another international sports embarrassment after the U-23 football team in the Rio Olympics were stranded in Atlanta. They eventually arrived  Brazil only few hours before their first match against Japan in Manaus.

7.      PROFESSOR ISAAC ADEWOLE (MINISTER OF HEALTH)

Under Professor Isaac Adewole, Nigeria’s readiness to combat epidemic remained in doubt as Nigeria was listed among countries with the lowest readiness for epidemic control in Africa with several outbreaks of diseases year after year.

The minister also failed in the management of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which has reportedly become the worst performing scheme for health coverage globally.

8.     Abdulrahman Danba’zzau (Minister of Interior)

Danba’zzau failed to stamp his authority as a security expert on internal security of the country. Our borders remained porous making it easier for bandits to cross into the country and leave at will.

Danba’zzau waited until one month to the end of Buhari’s first term before compelling the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to approve the sum of N52 billion for border monitoring.

His actions further exacerbated insecurity in the country especially in Zamfara, Sokoto where kidnapping has become the order of the day.

9. IBRAHIM JIBRIN

Ibrahim Jibrin, the former minister of state for environment, resigned his appointment in December when he emerged as the 13th Emir of Nasarawa Town in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State.

Others who didn’t make Buhari’s list are:

1.     Udo Udo Udoma – (Akwa Ibom) Minister of Budget & National Planning

2.    Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim- (Yobe) Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

3.     Cladius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo) Minister of State, Niger Delta .

4.    Prof Anthony Onwuka (Imo) Minister of State, Education

5.     Aisha Alhassan – (Taraba) Minister of Women Affairs

6.    Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) Minister of State, Trade & Investment

7.     Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa) Minister of State, Agriculture

8.    Abubakar Bawa Bwari (Niger) Minister of State, Solid Minerals

9.    Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River) Minister of Niger Delta