{"id":422513,"date":"2011-05-12T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-12T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/05\/12\/ministerial-list-mr-president%e2%80%99s-moment-of-decision\/"},"modified":"2011-05-12T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2011-05-12T06:00:00","slug":"ministerial-list-mr-presidents-moment-of-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/12\/ministerial-list-mr-presidents-moment-of-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Ministerial list: Mr. President\u2019s moment of decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n<\/p>\n

The cabinet, which will be constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan in the next few weeks, will show the direction of his administration and how the transformation he has promised will be carried out, NIYI ODEBODE writes<\/span><\/p>\n

Hardly had President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential poll than horse-trading for his next cabinet started. Those who are in the race for ministerial appointments include politicians, who lost in the concluded elections. Nigerians are watching Mr. President and they want to see whether he will pander to the wishes of political contractors and godfathers, who are compiling names that will be forwarded to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nigerians are eagerly waiting for men and women, who will be agents of transformation that the President promised during the electioneering. Next month, when the ministerial list is sent to the National Assembly, Nigerians will want to see whether politicians, who had consistently featured in past administrations and were part of past failures, would stage a comeback.<\/span><\/p>\n

No doubt, the list will be a measure of the President\u2019s character. As the presidential poll has shown, the rating of Jonathan among Nigerians is very high and many see him as a humble President with listening ears. But there are people that believe that it is too hasty to place the Otuoke-born politician on a scale. To such people, the real Jonathan will be unveiled when the ministerial list is out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those who are pursuing this line of argument, say the President inherited many of the present cabinet members from his predecessor, Alhaji Umaru Yar\u2019Adua, who died a year ago. Although Jonathan dissolved Yar\u2019Adua\u2019s cabinet, some of the former president\u2019s ministers are in the present Federal Executive Council. Such ministers include Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke (Petroleum) and Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (Foreign Affairs).<\/span><\/p>\n

For Jonathan, the moment of decision is here. On April 16, more than 22 million Nigerians gave him their mandate. In the last one year, the President has been using the mandate jointly given to him and Yar\u2019Adua. But in the next four years, he must carry his own can. Failures and successes of his government will be recorded against his name, not the ministers he is going to appoint. Jonathan wormed himself into the hearts of Nigerians through his solemn declaration at Eagles Square on September 17, 2010. The President, who recalled his humble background, said, \u201cI was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. [I] didn\u2019t have power, didn\u2019t have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree. Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you too can make it.\u201d Now is the time for Jonathan to translate those words into actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

During his campaign, Jonathan consistently promised transformation. The President said he would transform the country and bring about the much needed change. In Abuja, on September 17, 2010, the President said, \u201cLet the word go out from this Eagle Square that Jonathan as President in 2011 will herald a new era of transformation of our country; an era that will end the agony of power shortage in our country. Let the word go out from here that I will be for the students, teachers and parents of Nigeria, a President, who will advance quality and competitive education. Let everyone in this country hear that I shall strive to the best of my ability to attain self sufficiency in food production.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet the word go out that my plans for a Sovereign Wealth Fund with an initial capital of $1bn will begin the journey for an economic restoration. This restoration will provide new job opportunities and alleviate poverty. Let the word go out that our health sector will receive maximum priority in a new Jonathan administration, a priority that will ensure maximum health care and stop our brain drain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the next two weeks when Jonathan constitutes his cabinet, Nigerians will be able to know the team that will assist him in actualising the promise of transformation.\u201d The men and women the President appoints will indicate the stuff is made of. Politicians, who see ministerial appointments, as \u2018come and chop\u2019 (come and eat), rather than assist in actualising these goals, will act as spoilers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Already, political jobbers are at work as there are reports that some politicians, who are recurring faces in government are being touted for ministerial appointments. State chapters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, who do not want to miss the ministerial meals, have started compiling names that will be forwarded to the President for appointments. Some chapters of the party have been enmeshed in crises over who should make the list. In Lagos State, for instance, an-ex-convict, Chief Bode George, is said to be looking for men of integrity for the President.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the President cannot completely reject his party members, he needs to separate the chaff from the grain. Party members that would be appointed must be competent and committed to the goals Jonathan has set for himself. Jonathan has been receiving advice on who should make his cabinet. He may find the counsel of the Northern socio-political group, the Arewa Consultative Forum useful when compiling the names of his ministers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ACF has, in a plain language, told Jonathan that he does not need sycophants. The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Anthony Sani, said, \u201cThis is not about retaining the current cabinet members or not, but to have a government whose members know that even though governance is about who gets what; why; how, where and when, cabinet members must have realistic appreciation of essential tasks of governance as an art of balancing competing demands by the constituents of Nigeria.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo that end, government functionaries must be people with convictions; public intelligence and patriotic courage to tell Mr. President not just what he wants to hear, but also what he needs to hear for the collective good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who despite his shortcomings, was commended for bringing Dr. Ngozi Okonjo \u2013Iweala (former minister of finance) and other technocrats into his government, on Saturday advised the President to be cautious in choosing people he would work with. The man, who many regard as Jonathan\u2019s godfather, said, \u201cHe must be able to say this is the team; the crack team that will do the work. It does not matter whether they are politicians or technocrats, but it must be able a team that when you see, you will know will deliver.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If feelers from the Presidency are anything to go by, former political office holders, may get the shock of their lives. There are indications that the President would cast his net wide to catch the best of the best as his cabinet members. He is said to be looking beyond his present cabinet members and beaming searchlight on the private sector and Nigerians in the Diaspora.<\/span><\/p>\n

Already ministers, who know that their days in Jonathan\u2019s cabinet, are numbered have started panicking. There were reports that ministers, who had not performed in the last one year, would not be reappointed. A presidential aide, who pleaded anonymity, said, \u201cMinisters will be assessed and their re-appointment will be based on merit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Imo State Governor, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, who was defeated by the All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, has already written the President, expressing his desire to serve in the Federal Executive Council. The governor even expressed his preference for three ministries: Oil and gas; Environment and Police.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the letter, he said, \u201cWithout any prejudice, I wish to remind your Excellency, that three areas I have demonstrated flare in the National Economic Council are: Oil and Gas, Police reforms and Urban development and renewal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan\u2019s wide consultations have pitted the Presidential Advisory Council against the PDP. The President, it will be recalled set up the council headed by a former minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma. The group was reported to have called for the reduction in the number of ministries, departments and agencies to save cost. The PDP members, who think this will limit jobs for them are opposed to the suggestion. Whatever direction the President follows in the next two weeks will show how fast the country will move. But one thing is certain; Nigerians will not want to see politicians they refer to as \u2018any government in power\u2019 on the list.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

More:
\nMinisterial list: Mr. President\u2019s moment of decision<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The cabinet, which will be constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan in the next few weeks, will show the direction of his administration and how the transformation he has promised will be carried out, NIYI ODEBODE writes Hardly had President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential poll than horse-trading for his next cabinet started. Those who are in the race for ministerial appointments include politicians, who lost in the concluded elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":408370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-422513","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics"},"yoast_head":"\nMinisterial list: Mr. President\u2019s moment of decision - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/12\/ministerial-list-mr-presidents-moment-of-decision\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Ministerial list: Mr. President\u2019s moment of decision - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"The cabinet, which will be constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan in the next few weeks, will show the direction of his administration and how the transformation he has promised will be carried out, NIYI ODEBODE writes Hardly had President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential poll than horse-trading for his next cabinet started. 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