The ministerial list noticeably lacks some senior members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who were anticipated to make up President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet.
The president sent the first list to the Senate, according to a story published by Platinum Times Nigeria on Thursday.
There were 28 names in it. The second list of 19 nominees was presented to Senate President Godswill Akpabio earlier on Wednesday by Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff.
Some people were identified as probable cabinet members in the weeks before to the introduction of the ministers, but the verdict is still out. These are some of the names that are absent from the 47-man list:
AYADE BEN
Cross River State’s governor, Ben Ayade
At the height of his conflict with his previous party leaders, Ayade, a twice-elected governor under the People Democratic Party (PDP), switched to the government APC. The division was so severe at the time that Ayade engaged in verbal sparring with former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, who accused him of betraying the PDP. There are significant similarities between Wike and Ayade, who both served as governors of South South states. They would both have become ministers in the same administration, but Tinubu chose Beta Edu, a former Commissioner for Ayade.
The former governor was probably eyeing a position in the government because he had lost his race for senator.
Festus Kayemo
The spokesperson for the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Organization was the former Minister of State for Labor and Employment. Throughout and after the campaign, the senior attorney was in the spotlight. However, toward the conclusion of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Keyamo created a commotion with a stance he took on the MINISTER OF STATE.
In his farewell speech at the presidential palace, Keyamo had stated that bringing up such a problem did not indicate that he was unappreciative but rather that he was working to correct a long-standing abnormality.
“Mr. President, the concept or designation of minister of state is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed,” had been Keyamo’s statement. While some believed Keyamo was building the groundwork for a larger post, Tinubu chose to give Stella Okotete the Delta position.
FAYEMI KAYODE
Fayemi, a two-term governor of Ekiti, was Buhari’s first Solid Minerals Minister. After losing his bid for reelection to former Governor Ayo Fayose, another two-term governor who first lost his bid for reelection, he resigned to serve out the remainder of his tenure as governor.
Fayemi was one of the candidates who resigned in favor of the National Leader, who went on to win the 2023 presidential election. But while former Jigawa governor Abubakar Badaru, former Ebonyi governor David Umahi, and the only woman running for president in the APC, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, made the list after resigning, Fayemi’s name is noticeably absent. The rumors that he might join the cabinet were so widespread that some people said the foreign ministry portfolio had been given to him.
FANI-KAYODE
Fani-Kayode, a former adversary of Tinubu who has since become a buddy, was allegedly among those considered for cabinet jobs. Long before the elections, he joined the APC and served as one of the spokespersons for the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Despite the fact that throughout the campaign, the foul language and insults that the man with a short fuse flung at Tinubu while he was still on the opposing side of the split became a hot topic, Fani-Kayode did not back down or become sidetracked.B
BAYO ONANUGA
Some people suggested that Onanuga, the Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Presidential Campaign Organization, might have something more important prepared for him when Tinubu named his media team and his name wasn’t there. Throughout the campaign, the former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was highly visible. He was never afraid to stand up for the president.
Before the list was released, prominent names including Ifeanyi Uba, Rabui Kwankwaso, Akan Udofia, Dimeji Bankole, Iyiola Omisore, James Faleke, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and Abdullahi Ganduje missed.