The ministerial nominees have all been screened and confirmed, amid some controversies. Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, takes a look at the drama and politics that went into the processes.
After a historic win in the March 28, 2015 presidential election over then sitting president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the major opposition party, was sworn in as Nigeria’s new head of state on Friday, May 29, in a colourful ceremony that mixed military pomp with cultural display.
His emergence was historical and with great jubilation. It was hailed by Nigerians and the world because Buhari, who had earlier contested the seat for three consecutive times, won the first opposition victory in the country over a sitting president.
Most Nigerians then had expressed optimism that his leadership would usher in new vista in governance.
Expectedly there were critics of the second coming of the retired General whose bid to instil discipline in Nigerians 30 years ago met brickwall. They feel Buhari does not have what it takes to bring the change that Nigerians genuinely need.
With Buhari’s election, it was believed in major political quarters that Nigerians showed their commitment to democracy and determination to entrench its culture.
The confidence in Buhari was reportedly hinged on his integrity and above all his courage and avowed promise to embark on anti-corruption war against all fraudulent public officials that had raped the country’s economy through shady deals.
Buhari’s inauguration, before past Nigerian leaders and serving heads of state from across the continent, came 31 years after he took over power in a military coup and was ousted 20 months later. But his legacy of discipline within the short period he was in the saddle was acclaimed to be impactful, that some observers contended that his tenure would provide Nigeria the needed magic wand to transform to a new nation with great prospects, where all will feel safe and secured, fulfilled, with fairness, justice and equal opportunity for all.
There was no doubt that the former General inherited a country facing crises on several fronts, from severe economic turmoil to serious security challenge, particularly the Boko Haram’s still-raging Islamist insurgency.
What at the beginning appeared as a democratic milestone was when Buhari described himself as a “converted democrat” and vowed to lead an administration committed to the needs of Nigeria’s over 173 million people by cracking down on the scourge of corruption.
More instructive and cheering was Buhari’s promise in his inaugural address to be a president for all and not to be vindictive.
Said Buhari: “Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the holy book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as president to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.
“A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.”
In Buhari’s 100 days of superintending Nigeria, TheNiche investigation revealed that the initial excitement that heralded him to power seem to be dying down.
And the reason was simple: lopsidedness in appointment.
The appointments had set off a firestorm of condemnation, with critics labelling his nominations as overwhelmingly askew – lacking in gender and regional balance.
Critics were of the opinion that Buhari should know that Nigeria is a tripod, made up of regions, a reality anybody at the helm of affairs must recognise in the interest of peace, equity and fairness.
The initial worry and criticism against the Buhari leadership was that he was slow, appearing not to be in a haste to fix a nation faced with gargantuan, multifarious problems. He was also accused of being insensitive by delay in the appointment of key positions such as the security chiefs, ministers and envoys as well as personal staff.
Today the emphasis has shifted because Buhari has finally submitted his list of ministers to the Senate after the earlier appointments of his personal staff and service chiefs.
But commentators agree that it is unfortunate that five months into the tenure of the present administration, Buhari’s cabinet is yet to take off resulting from the undue delay in the submission of the ministerial list to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Some political observers contend that although some of the candidates pencilled in as ministers have shown capacity to deliver, while there are some, given their performance before the Senate, who substantially fell short of expectation.
While a nominee, for instance, could not recite the national pledge, there was another whose response was quite discriminatory.
The action of Cross River State nominee, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru, at the Senate, to many, was condemnable, quite annoying and unbecoming of a ministerial nominee.
Uguru and the senators started by exchanging banters at the introductory stage before he made what was considered “an offensive statement”.
Uguru mentioned names of some senators with whom he traversed the country during the last campaign. Most of the senators he mentioned were of the APC.
Then, one of the senators asked Uguru: “Were you interacting with the PDP too?” to which he replied “God forbid”.
Although he apologised, the sad memory still lingers.
Managing Director of ThisDay newspapers, Eniola Bello, was irked by the way and manner the Senate handled the exercise. He seemed to have spoken the minds of many Nigerians, as most observers who spoke with TheNiche shared same views that not all the nominees deserve the position.
“Not all deserve the ayes: Despite the soft handling and poor questioning of the nominees, the performance of some still left much to be desired. When it is time to take the confirmation question, the Senate should redeem itself by ensuring that not all the nominees get the ayes,” Bello had argued before the blanket confirmation done in the absence of PDP senators who walked out because they could not have their way in stopping former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.
He observed further while mentioning names of those he felt performed abysmally.
“In doing this, senators should not sacrifice competence for politics. Adebayo Shittu, the nominee from Oyo State, for instance, does not deserve confirmation. Asked a pointed question on Boko Haram, he declined to answer, ostensibly because he has family members to look after. A man constrained by fear, and who cannot make sacrifices, is unfit to serve.
“Professor Claudius Daramola, the old man from Ondo State, has taught at every school level. However, I fear for the age of his ideas. For me, it’s a nay.
“Abubakar Malami (SAN) from Kebbi State is more of a businessman than an attorney. Already touted as heading for the Justice Ministry, his knowledge of legal and judicial issues is below par. He shouldn’t get the ayes,” he had added.
Senator Abiodun Olujimi said the handling of Amaechi’s situation at the Senate, for example, did not show that the Buhari government was sincere in its pledge to take the country to the next level.
Olujimi observed: “There is a moral burden on a government that is riding on a crest of corruption. This (APC) government is not sincere in fighting any corruption, but is condoning it. They do not follow the rule of law, so what are they claiming?”
Some political observers have argued that there is no strong persuasion that the ministers-designate, despite all the noise about change, would produce any fundamental change.
But Nigerians may do with holding on to Buhari’s appeal for patience with him as it would not be business-as-usual.
