Ministerial List: How Buhari shortlisted his nominees

The 21 would-be ministers submitted to the Senate for screening by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday were unaware of their nominations.

Buhari

It was gathered that the President did not hint them of their possible inclusion even though some of them paid several visits to the Presidential villa.

According to The Nation’s Newspaper’s report, Buhari directed security agencies to conduct discreet investigations into their records after shortlisting their names. Those closer to him were not spared in the thorough investigation.

It was gathered that a former Head of state who suggested a name to the President was politely turned down due to the age of the suggested nominee.

Information gathered revealed that there was anxiety in some quarters yesterday as there was no nominees from Ondo, Abia, Enugu, Imo and Kogi State.

It was only yesterday that the President asked all those he shortlisted for screening to submit their curriculum vitae.

Due to the short notice, some nominees sent their emissaries to Abuja to submit their CVs while others submitted theirs through electronic mails.

According to a source “Most of the nominees    announced on Wednesday were caught unawares because Buhari never sat any of them down or told them that they would be among his ministers.

“Even though some of them had been coming to the Presidential Villa, he did not confide in them.

“I can tell you that the President did not give assurance to ex-Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, and Babatunde Fashola. Even as close as Lt.-Gen. Dambazzau and Sen. Hadi Sirika are to the President, they did not know that they would be in the cabinet. The President adopted suspense all through. That is his style.

“The President only directed security agencies to conduct discreet security checks on them for about one or two months.

“The security checks were jealously guarded to prevent leakage. This was the nature of the appointment.

“The President adopted intelligence approach in picking his team. A few others who were nominated by some highly-placed Nigerians, political leaders and governors could not scale through the discreet checks.”

Another source said: “You can see the transparency of the process adopted by the President. It was on Thursday morning that the Presidency started sending messages to most of the nominees to send their CVs.

“Some of them sent their CVs through e-mail and others sent emissaries to Abuja to submit their credentials ahead of compilation for the Senate’s consideration from next week.

“The President was sure of the pedigree of his cabinet members before asking them to bring their CVs.”

 

 

According to a report by the Nation, Buhari used five factors to shortlist the would-be ministers.

The factors are strict adherence to principle of non-interference in choosing his cabinet, integrity or pedigree, old acquaintances, selfless service and less exposure to political influence.

Quoting a  highly placed source, the Nation wrote: “Buhari was his own man in choosing his cabinet, although he took certain factors into consideration. Those who came to advise him assisted in providing direction or guiding his mind. At a point, the APC leadership could not give exact situation of things.

“He has done away with appointments based on favouritism, godafthers and egoism.

“Apart from merit, Buhari gave ministerial slots to those who have the ability, those who can deliver and those he has trusted over the years, including those who worked with him in the former Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and those in the trenches with him in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He has rewarded selflessness, perseverance and loyalty.”

There was anxiety yesterday in 14 states whose ministerial nominees have not been announced.

‘’There had been enquiries from the states. Political leaders from the states are mounting pressure on top officials of the Presidency to know their stand,’’ a source said.

 

Ministerial List: How Buhari shortlisted his nominees