Buhari singled out Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba for braving the odds to quit to avoid conflict of interest.
Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has resigned his position in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari in line with the presidential directive for all ministers interested in the 2023 elections to leave.
Buhari had directed that all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) running for elective offices to submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.
According to the Nigerian Lawyer, Buhari singled out the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba for braving the odds to quit to avoid conflict of interest, and said: “I expect other members of this council seeking to be President to resign with immediate effect.”
It is unclear why Buhari chose to fire the ministers the same day an Appeal Court gave all of them the clear that they can keep their jobs while seeking to become their party flag bearer.
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The other ministers expected to resign immediately are; Ministers of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu and others who have all joined the presidential race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others are the Minister of State Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for the governorship position in Abia State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for the senatorial seat in Plateau State.
Lai Mohammed, while addressing journalists, stressed that the resignation excludes the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo because he is an elected member of the cabinet.
He affirmed that any amendment or additions to this directive will be disseminated accordingly.
The Minister added that if the need arises, the directive might involve political appointees.
Nwajiuba reportedly tendered his resignation even before Buhari ordered all cabinet members interested in contesting the 2023 elections to quit his government.
In fact, findings show that he actually resigned on April 28.
Confirming this development Mr. Paul Odili, Special Assistant to the former Minister, said: “The Honourable Minister, on accepting the nomination form on the 27th of April bought for him by his supporters led by an umbrella group, Project Nigeria, wrote the President on the 28th informing him that having accepted the nomination by his supporters to contest the office of the presidency on the party’s platform, that he would like to disengage from office to enable him concentrate on his campaign and to avoid any conflict of interest.
“I can tell you Mr. President immediately accepted his letter of resignation.”
