… New Appointments Or Minor Cabinet Reshuffle Imminent
The forced resignation of Power Minister, Professor Barth Nnaji has put President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan under pressure to fill two key Ministerial positions in his cabinet if he is to deliver on two main issues staring his government in the face – poor power supply and crippling insecurity.
In June Jonathan fired his Defence Minister, Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello, 66, from Kebbi State in Nigeria's troubled north and has so far been unable to name a replacement.
Today's shocking and unexpected resignation of Nnaji, a key ally in his quest to provide stable electricity for businesses and families in Africa's most populous state may force Jonathan to announce an immediate replacement in order not to jeopardize his ambitious and holistic approach to solving Nigeria's embarrassing power problem.
Though President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that he is slow when it comes to taking decisions, however, the realization that two key Ministries are presently without substantive Ministers may sure spur him to announce replacements from or outside his present cabinet.
Nnaji, a renowned engineer with a solid background in Robotic, Industrial and Systems Engineering represented Enugu State in the Federal cabinet and was a member of the National Council on Privatization by virtue of his portfolio as Minister of Power until he was forced out of office by Jonathan over a brewing scandal in the slated privatization of Afam generation Company in Rivers State and Enugu Distribution Company (Enugu DISCO), where it was discovered that two companies linked to him had had their technical and financial tenders for the two power companies approved without full disclosure by him. The discovery last Friday forced the NCP to retreat and cancel the evaluation exercise for the companies.
Minor Cabinet Reshuffle Or New Appointments Coming?
A very close senior Adviser to the President had in a chat with THEWILL last quarter ruled out the prospect of a major cabinet change. Jonathan further confirmed the development in in May via a statement issued by Spokesman Reuben Abati, who said, “Contrary to recent speculations in the media about a so-called impending cabinet reshuffle, the Presidency wishes to state emphatically that there is no truth whatsoever in the said reports.
“… Jonathan has implicit confidence in the ability of the current crop of ministers to deliver and has no plan to undertake any replacement at the moment.”
Though President Jonathan has managed to remain unpredictable with the timing of his appointments, THEWILL foresee two new appointments or a minor cabinet reshuffle in the coming days as it would be almost impossible for Jonathan to deliver on one of his key electoral campaign promises – sustainable electricity before the 2014 general elections -- without a substantive Power Minister.
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