Emmanuel Aziken
18 November 2008
THREE weeks after sacking 20 ministers, President Umaru Yar'Adua, yesterday, presented a list of his nominees to the coveted positions to the Senate. The nominees are, however, seven short of the relieved ones.
The list made mostly of technocrats, as the President promised earlier, got to the upper house late and is expected to be unveiled fully at today's Senate session.
Among the nominees are the former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman; Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs and Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili. Senator Abubakar Gada is also on the list, Vanguard gathered from authoritative sources yesterday.
Others include Dr. Shetima Mustapha from Bauchi State, Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin, the Director-General of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) and a renowned architect from Kaduna State.
Vanguard had reported that a good number of those being considered by the President as replacements for the 20 ministers are technocrats.
Most, if not all, of the dropped ministers were politicians nominated by the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the states.
However, Vanguard learnt that President Yar'Adua is disposed to picking technocrats over and above politicians in what is believed to be a move to protect his cabinet from political manipulations.
Sources said most of those he contacted asked for time to decide on the offer.
This is partly responsible for the delay in sending the names of the nominees to the Senate for ratification.
Dropped by President Yar'Adua from his cabinet at its last meeting were Adamu Maina Waziri, Charles Ugwu, Ahmed Garba Bichi, Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, Jerry Anthony Agadal, Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim, Emmanuel Olatunde Odusina, Halima Tayo Alao, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, John James Akpanudoedehe, Tijani Yahaya Kaura, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, Alhaji Haruna Hassan, Sarafa Tunji Isola, Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, Felix Hyatt, John Okechukwu Emeka, Saudatu Usman Bungudu, Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba
While announcing te changes, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), had said: "The President directed that until new Ministers are confirmed by the Senate and sworn into office, Mr. Remi Babalola (Minister of State, Finance), will serve as Supervising Minister for the Federal Capital Territory Authority.
"Similarly, Mr. Demola Seriki (Minister of State, Agriculture and Water Resources) will serve as Supervising Minister for the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development while Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong (Minister of State, Culture and Tourism will serve as Supervising Minister for the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
"Alhaji Alhassan Bako Zaku (Minister of State, Science & Technology) is to act as Supervising Minister for the National Sports Commission; Elder Godsday Orubebe (Minister, Special Duties) will act as Supervising Minister/Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission and Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre (Minister, Science & Technology) will oversee the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs."
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