Introducing The Nominees On Jonathan’s Ministerial List

PHOTO: ODEIN AJUMOGOBIA MAY BE APPOINTED NEW OIL MINISTER. PHOTO: REUTERS.

ABUJA March 23, (THEWILL) - It was just about 3.30 p.m. WAT on Tuesday when the Special Assistant to the President in charge of the Senate, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh arrived at the premises of the upper legislature armed with a file containing 25 names of nominees for various Ministerial positions in the new cabinet being assembled by Nigerian Acting president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

THEWILL had earlier gathered from Presidency sources that the Senate would receive the first batch of nominees before the end of the day so we were on red alert making calls and positioning ourselves to be among the first to publish the names of all the nominees.

When we eventually got access to the names on the list via a privileged source, we discovered that there were eighteen new nominees including a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader, Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Anenih who was listed as representing Anambra State. Josephine Anenih is estranged wife of Chief Tony Anenih, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, who sources said Chief Olusegun Obasanjo pushed her nomination to spite his political foe, Chief Anenih.

Seven members of the Yar’Adua constituted cabinet, which Jonathan sacked a week ago, also made the list.

They are the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode representing Ondo State; former Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke of Bayelsa State; former Minister of State (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) of Rivers State; former Minister of State (Niger Delta), Elder Godsday Orubebe (Delta); former Minister of State (Agriculture), Mrs. Fidelia Njeze representing Enugu State; former Minister of State (Power), Architect Somo Nuhu Wya; and former Minister of Youths Development, Akinlabi Olasunkanmi.

The new entrants had the imprint of former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo written all over the list. They are: former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, Navy Captain N. S. Olubolade (Ekiti); former Managing Director of New Nigeria Newspapers, Ndanusa Alao (Kogi); Son of Late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Alhaji Mutallab Yar'Adua (Katsina), former South-South Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Nduese Essien of Akwa Ibom State; Alhaji Umaru Aliyu (Taraba); and Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq from Gombe State.

Others on the list are the Vice Chancellor of Kebbi State University, Professor M.K. Abubakar; former Executive Director NAPIMS, Engineer Chris Ogienwonyi representing Edo State; a member of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Chukwuemeka Worgu (Abia); a Managing Director in the London office of US investment bank Goldman Sachs, Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga representing Lagos State; wife of former Governor of Plateau State Mr. Fidelis Tapgun, Mrs. Josephine Tapgun from Plateau State; Captain Ernest Odebola; Mr. Suleiman Bello; Mr. Bello Adoke, (SAN); former Minister of National Planning, Senator Sanusi Daggash (Borno); Senator representing Bauchi South from ANPP, Bala Mohammed; and former student activist and Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Labaran Maku (Nasarawa).

Notably absent from the list was the name of former Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili who unconfirmed reports said was removed from the list at the last minute.

The nominees are expected to appear before the Senate on Thursday for screening and confirmation.

To smoothen out things for the nominees, a Presidency source confirmed that the Senate President, Mr. David Mark was invited over by Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday night to deliberate on the issues surrounding the Ministerial list.