by DAPO OLAOSEBIKAN
With the recent approval of the 20 Special Advisers for President Bola Tinubu by the Senate and inauguration of 10th Assembly fast approaching in a week, the next big issue in the political arena is the choice of names he will submit to the nation’s apex legislature as his ministers.
Undoubtedly, there have been different names bandied around in the social media since his swearing in as Nigeria’s 16th president on Tuesday, May 29; close sources to Aso Rock Villa say in as much as he wants to hit the ground running, President Tinubu is bidding his time to put together the best brains and technocrats nationwide for his in-coming cabinet as he has openly said on several occasions.
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According to political pundits, the proof that the president is taking his time to come up with the cabinet that will compliment his vision and mission of a new Nigeria in spite of several unapproved lists that have been flying around on the social media is his nomination and inauguration of Senator George Akume as the new Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF recently.
It is generally believed by political watchers that while the choice of names that President Tinubu will eventually submit to the Senate for approval may not be too difficult for him in some states, it is said the case may be different in some others like Ekiti and Kwara. For instance, the two states had high scores in the last presidential election for the APC, delivered all their candidates in the National Assembly elections and are having well qualified brains and technocrats for ministerial posts.
In Ekiti, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, a former minister and ardent supporter of President Tinubu, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of the state and Mr Femi Falana, SAN, a legal luminary, are the names being mentioned for possible nomination.
In Kwara State on the other hand, the names of Alhaji Abdullahi Sanusi Kaiama, a technocrat and expert in international business, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim and Mr Dele Belgore are on the radar for nomination.
Competent sources close to the Villa reveal that while the choice of nominees from Ekiti State could be a straight decision for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that of Kwara might not be quite simple because of the need for equity and fairness in the political affairs of state being agitated for by people and political leaders of Kwara North Senatorial District.
The contention here is that Kwara North needs to be fairly treated as its is the only zone yet to produce a governor for the state since 1999. Thus, while both Kwara South and Central have been producing Governors and Ministers regularly in the current political dispensation, the zone has been unfairly treated in this regard.
Alhaji Sanusi Kaiama, technocrat, Turaki Borgu and coordinator, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Northern Grassroots Forum, is from Kwara North Senatorial District while Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, an oil and gas magnate, and Mr. Dele Belgore of Justice Belgore family fame are from Kwara South and Central respectively.
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