President Goodluck Jonathan completed yesterday his reform of the defence architecture in the battle against Boko Haram, with the inauguration of Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau as Minister of Defence.
Jonathan replaced his Service Chiefs in January and appointed a new Chief of Defence Staff to step up the anti-insurgency war in the Northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, which are under emergency rule.
No fewer than 500 people, including pupils attacked while sleeping, have been killed in the last two months.
The defence portfolio has been vacant since Haliru Bello was removed in June, 2012 following a spate of attacks.
Gen. Gusau, a one-time Chief of Army Staff has twice served as National Security Adviser (NSA).
Jonathan appointed him NSA in 2010, but he left months later to bid against Jonathan for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket in 2011.
Gen. Gusau’s appointment is expected to raise the bar of the government’s approach to the battle against Boko Haram.
Apart from Gen. Gusau, the President swore in 10 other ministers.
He sacked Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi and replaced him with Dr. Tamuno Danagogo.
Abdullahi was not at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The President did not announce his departure. He only swore in a replacement, leaving room for guessing whether Abdullahi, a former Minister of Youth, would be reassigned.
Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati later confirmed to reporters that Abdullahi had been relieved of his duties.
Abdullahi was said to have travelled to Poland where Nigeria’s athletes are participating in the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
Julius Ogunro, Abdullahi’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, said: “As I am talking to you I am not sure he (Abdullahi) has even got the message of his sack, because he is air borne on his way to Poland for the World Athletics Indoor Championship.
“The man tried his best for sports. He is the best person I have ever worked with.”
Aviation and Education ministries have no ministers yet.
Dr. Jonathan said new ministers would be appointed next week.
Other ministers inaugurated yesterday are:
Ambassador Aminu Wali (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Mohammed Wakil (Minister of State for Power) and Abduljelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Minister of Police Affairs). Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Land and Environment), Laurencia Labaran Mallam (Minister of Environment), Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Minister of State for Agriculture), Boni Haruna (Minister of Youth Development) and Dr Khaliru Alhassan (Minister of State for Health) also took the oath of office.
Wali was Nigeria’s ambassador to China.
Jonathan urged the ministers to see their appointments as a public trust and truly serve the people.
He said: “At the end, if you cannot say that you have brought innovations to your ministry, then you have failed. If you are not able to detect errors in the ministry, then you have failed. It is your responsibility to make positive changes.” (0)
Jonathan swears in 11 Ministers
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