Though the Senate has not made public the list of the 21 ministerial nominees it received from the Presidency last Wednesday, media reports indicate that five All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains and past governors are in contention.
The five are are Babatunde Raji Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Chris Ngige, and Ogbonnaya Onu.
While presidency sources confirm that the list of the remainding 15 nominees will get to the Senate, tomorrow (Tuesday) there are already strong indications as to what portfolios these party chieftains and other nominees will be assigned to.
Going by President Muhammadu Buhari’s speeches and disposition for efficiency, merit and proper delivery of public service, observers are expecting that the President would appoint round pegs in round holes.
Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past governor of Lagos state had established a reputation for public works and project execution during his eight years as governor. Also, his accomplishments in the area of independent power generation and public transportation projects speak volumes.
Beyond his exemplary capacity to articulate policy, he has a proven track record in Lagos state in the area of delivering on infrastructural projects that provide value to the Nigerian people.
Victor Ukaogo, Professor at the Federal University Wukari, says the works ministry will benefit remarkably from Fashola’s “eye for public infrastructure”. Observers believe that Fashola will bring dynamism, articulation and performance to the ministries of works, power or transportation.
Rotimi Amaechi, a man who fought gallantly through the corridors of justice, to secure the position of governor in Rivers state, fearlesslessly, fought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and led a revolt that took him and others to the APC.
Amaechi who organised the presidential campaign for the APC, which brought victory to President Buhari, is known for his impactful projects in the schools system in Rivers State.
He transformed the hitherto derided primary schools in the state to centres of academic excellence and aesthetics, providing a comfortable environment for teaching and learning and empowered the teachers by providing regular salaries.
The huge number of Rivers state youths now scattered across the globe studying on scholarship is credited to his pro-education programmes. His exemplary positioning of Rivers state as a book and literary haven, attracted international attention and applause. If assigned to the ministry of education, Rotimi Ameachi most likely would be driven by his passion to transform the delivery of education services across the country.
For Kayode Fayemi, the articulate, well spoken, scholarly mind who was governor of Ekiti state, observers believe he will be of good value in the ministry of Information or foreign affairs.
Chris Ngige, past governor of Anambra state is a medical doctor and has served in strategic senior positions in the public health system. He rose to the level of Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health and observers say he would be quite valuable in articulating and executing health policies, as minister of health.
Ogbonnaya Onu, past governor of Abia state is an accomplished engineer and leader of men. Observers believe he would bring to bear his engineering skills and insight to the ministry of power, technology, or his leadership skills to the ministry of interior.
For other ministerial nominees like Audu Ogbeh, one time PDP chieftain and former minister of communications, and steel development, who is currently an agribusiness entrepreneur, observers say his leadership qualities and entrepreneurial experience would be well deployed in the agriculture ministry.
Amina Mohammed is a distinguished international civil servant in the area of development planning. She has served as special adviser to the President on millennium development goals, especially on gender and education matters. She is an experienced bureaucrat and resource person that would add value to the ministries of national planning or education.
The nominees for ministerial positions are now unfolding after a long and much criticised wait. Observers say it is the assignment of these ministerial nominees to portfolios that would show the strategic thinking and vision of the President and current administration.
IKENNA OBI
