Ministerial list ‘recycles anti-democratic elements’, it says
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu has merely “recycled, spent forces and anti-democratic elements” as ministerial nominees, the Labour Party (LP) has charged in its reaction to the list the President sent to the Senate on July 28, a day to the constitutional deadline.
Other critics have also expressed disappointment over the absence of highly anticipated “technocrats” on the list, with many young Nigerians on social media saying the politicians who made the cut are being rewarded for the roles played in bringing Tinubu to office.
The nominees include formers Governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), and Nyesom Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who allegedly manipulated the election in favour of Tinubu in Rivers, according to court papers filed by Tinubu’s opponents.
The list also contains seven women, including the only APC 2023 female presidential aspirant, Uju Ohanenye; Deputy Spokesperson for the dissolved Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council, Hannatu Musawa; and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women Leader, Betta Edu; among others.
LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh argued the list of 28 ministerial nominees runs foul of the Electoral Act, and also dismissed it as the recycling of “failed and clueless politicians” as against dynamic youths and resulted-oriented technocrats promised.
“Some of these nominees played prominent anti-democratic roles in the previous administration, particularly since 2015, which saw the APC government fail in all its promises to Nigerians,” Ifoh said in a statement.
“We also saw ‘Prebendal’ politics in full swing where mainly the cronies and lackeys of the APC national leader were selected for a reward for servitude and blind discipleship.
“This list does not in any way reflect the enormous reservoir of talents, potentials, and resources Nigeria is known for. It still baffles us as to why this government ignored the youthful and technocratic potentials that abound but rather chose to appoint spent forces that have failed Nigeria in the past.
“A glance at the list exposes the absence of technocrats who usually form the nucleus or core policy implementers in any given government and unfortunately in their place are fawning politicians who may not be of any help in the needed efforts to salvage and reposition the country.”
Ifoh also expressed disappointment that Tinubu chose to unveil his ministerial nominees in batches instead of presenting the entire list within 60 days.
In his view, 60 days was enough for any serious government to put together a cabinet.
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Violations of the law
“Again, we are worried that the ministerial list is being presented piecemeal. The Constitution of Nigeria clearly states that at least a minister must be appointed from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” Ifoh added, per reporting by The PUNCH.
“The Electoral Act as amended also stipulates that a list containing ministerial nominees must be sent to the Senate within 60 days from the commencement of a government for screening and confirmation.
“But what we witnessed was a hurriedly prepared list that excluded nominations from about 10 states in clear violation of the laws of the land.
“Sixty days is quite a lengthy period for any serious government to form its executive team.
“This development appears even more ridiculous because we know that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has struggled to be president for over two decades and therefore should have been able by now to identify and have a solid team selected across the country that is qualified to hold ministerial positions. But this has not happened.
“Had it not [being] for the Electoral Act which compels a government to submit a ministerial list within 60 days, given what we are seeing, one wonders how long it would have taken the APC leadership to form the government.
“This is because it took the immediate past APC administration over six months to appoint its ministers in 2015.”
