Battle for top jobs: The buck stops on Jonathan’s desk

Therefore, events that will follow the President’s inauguration are surely going to put Jonathan to the test because the pedigree of those going to make the final list will, to a large extent, provide an insight into the shape and character of the next government.   Therefore, the President’s  position at the moment could  aptly be applied to the saying, show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.

The type of people likely to make up his next cabinet and by extension those that will occupy principal offices in the National Assembly,  would to a great extent, determine the success of his transformation  promises he offered Nigerians  before  his election.

However,  while the executive positions are solely in the pocket of the president, the struggle to produce principal officers  of the 7th National Assembly  is proving more difficult than expected. Despite the purported anointing of some principal officers in the power sharing arrangement,  some of the lawmakers are  still not comfortable and are poised to challenge it.

The power sharing arrangement for key offices  in the executive, the legislative arms and even in the PDP  was conceived in zoning arrangement  which the party and presidency at one time, said was not binding on them.

The arrangements were said to have been rectified at Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort during the President’s one week work retreat . The same plan was later on adopted by  the party and its stipulated zoning arrangement as follows: President ( South-South), Vice President (North-West), Senate President (North Central), Speaker ( South-West), Deputy Senate President ( South -East) , Deputy Speaker, ( North -East),  National Chairman ( North- East) , SGF (South East), Senate Leader  (South-West),  House Leader, (South South), Senate Chief Whip ( North -West) and House Chief Whip  (South-East).

The  deal  was on the premise that since the position of the President was zoned to the South-South and that of Vice President to the North-West, it was apparent to retain the existing leadership structure in the legislative arm as well. It opined that the  North Central zone which has the current President of the Senate, David Mark, to retain the position in the incoming Senate while South -West which has the outgoing Speaker Dimeji Bankole, who has lost his election,  to retain the post of Speaker in the incoming House of Representatives despite the pitiable performance of the ruling party in the South West during the last National Assembly elections.

But even before it is affected , the  sharing formula is facing stiff objection from the lawmakers  especially from the North and South East who are of the opinion that the arrangement should not be a matter of convenience and that the pact ought to have enforced before now. They argued that  the zoning formula, which was allegedly jettisoned by the party and presidency, is no longer relevant  and they should be allowed to choose their leaders based on competence and ability to deliver. These anti-zoning elements are said to planning to enforce their stand in June when the two chambers of the National  Assembly will come stream and elect their principal officers.

But before the June judgment day,  the current leadership of the Senate has quickly adopted precautionary measures to nip in the bud any attempt to  scuttle the pact and unseat the current leadership of the Senate. The Senate  has in the amendment edged out non-ranking senators by  adopting the controversial  seniority amendment of the Senate standing rules emphasizing seniority of members in vying for leadership and committee positions.  it is believed to be used as a bludgeon to not only edge out new senators but deal with perceived troublesome senators who are likely to challenge the statuesque.  Already,  a non ranking senator-elect and outgoing Governor of Gombe State , Alhaji Danjuma Goje and his  Kwara  State counterpart Bukola Saraki are said to be eyeing the Senate top job despite the bar.

While the case of the Senate is seemed settle, the scenario in  lower chamber i raising nerves  following attempts by  some PDP lawmakers and lawmakers from opposition parties to scuttle attempt by the party and the presidency to foist their candidates on them.  Both the party and presidency are said to be pushing for Representative  Muraina Saubana  Ajibola (PDP, Oyo State) , one of the very lawmakers that survived Action Congress of Nigeria onslaught from the South-West, from becoming the next Speaker.   Ajibola is not the only ranking member from South-West that is contesting, another member, Rep Mulikat Adeola (PDP, Oyo State) is also contesting, thereby turning the South-West battle for the Speaker of the seventh House of Representatives into a straight  fight between Ajobola,  Adeola. But the zoning is not going unchallenged as Rep. Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto State), who is out of contention based on the zoning arrangement is contesting and he is said to have the backing most lawmakers and he is counting the adoption of the  open secret ballot  in the election of principal officers to cruise to victory.

While the scheming is raging on the legislative arm, the  race for the new chairman of the party,  ahead of the party’s national convention billed for March is also attracting same interest. The zoning of the position to North-East has already attracted almost a dozen  suitors among them the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufai Ahmed Alkali from Gombe State; former Bauchi State Governor Ahmad Adamu Mu’azu;  Ambassador Hassan Adamu from Adamawa State, former FCT Minister  Aliyu Modibbo from Gombe State, former Agriculture  Minister Adamu Maina Waziri from Yobe State’ former Power and Steel Minister Murtala Aliyu among others.   The zone is also slugging over the position of the Deputy Speaker.

Similarly, the South East zone, which had mounted serious clamour for the position of the Speaker in the arrangement, was consoled with the strategic office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in addition to retaining the office of Deputy Senate President. Already, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, has been appointed as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The horse-trading that preceded Anyim’s appointment is also at play for the ministerial appointments with the expiration of the the present cabinet on Sunday, May 29.

However, while  political and  geographical considerations  are said to be leading criteria,  ethnic and religious balancing are likely to pose a big upset to the ruling party.  The party and the presidency must exercise caution while applying the zoning arrangement  in order to balance ethnic and religious divides. Competence and credibility of the candidates should also not be taken with levity.

For now, Nigerians are watching the President and  the ruling party. They want to see whether they will pander to the wishes of political contractors and godfathers, or listen to the plight of the Nigerians who gave them the mandate to steer  the country for the next four years.

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