By Valentine Amanze
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has said that he was under pressure to unveil his ministerial nominees.
He disclosed this while addressing the leadership of the National Assembly during a dinner on Thursday night in Abuja.
His words:
“I am very much aware about it and I am under tremendous pressure on it.
“The last cabinet which I had, most of them, a majority of them I didn’t know.
“I had to accept their names and recommendation from the party. I worked with them for three and a half years.”
The President, however, explained that the delay was to nominate people he knows personally and can work with.
Buhari had asked the former members of his cabinet to handover their schedules to the permanent secretaries of their respective ministries on May 28.
On July 5, he reappointed Mr Abba Kyari as his Chief of Staff, as well as Mr Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
A statement from the President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, however, said both appointments took effect from May 29, 2019.
Some of the lawmakers at the dinner were President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also present were Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya; Deputy Leader, Senator Ajayi Borofice; Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; and Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Sabi Abdullahi.
Others include House Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu.