People Who Share Buhari's Values To Form His Cabinet

With less than six weeks left to the inauguration of the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari's administration, speculation about the new cabinet deepens.

Daily Sun reported that the next Federal Executive Council may be formed of Nigerians who are not only ruled by the desire to reinstate the dream of the founding fathers but also share the austere lifestyle of the president-elect.

As General Buhari is committed to working with the best, it is understood that he favours the likes of former ministers of petroleum and finance, Prof Tam David-West and Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Flexes His Political Muscles, Hand-Picks Allies 

Others in the running are the ex-president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu; the former minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi; the former contender for the APC presidential ticket, Sam Ndah-Isaiah; and the Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola.

It was learnt that though the former military ruler is not going to stand against the party that won him the presidency, Buhari has decided to pick technocrats and those he trusts to run his most significant offices.

A source close to Buhari who had been privy to the meetings being held disclosed: “It’s the President-elect’s personal wish to return former Nigeria’s oil Minister, David West to the Petroleum Ministry.”

He said that David West is incorruptible, thrifty, and trustworthy even in trying times.

The source also disclosed that although several capable technocrats are being talked about, and their names promoted by party leaders and campaigners for the Ministry of Finance, the inner circle of the president-elect is inclined toward the expertise of Doctor Idika Kalu, a World Bank specialist consultant who for many years worked with the bank’s different development programmes, notably propelling the Korean economy from the Third World into its present competitive global market.

Furthermore, the source also named Idika Kalu, who in 2005 openly opposed the Paris debt relief as campaigned for by the Olusegun Obasanjo government.

In a thesis in the Washington based America Mi Dream Magazine, the financial specialist argued:

“What Nigerian authorities have in fact, opted to do is a rather expensive debt refinancing. More bluntly, our first option in dealing with our enhanced revenue cannot be for a ‘debt exit treatment,’ but rather, for the further growth and development of the Nigerian economy. This is the sustainable way of helping Nigeria’s fight against poverty, which the Paris club clearly subscribes to.”

READ ALSO: Obasanjo Visits President-Elect, Buhari 

The source believed that Buhari, as in the case of David West, wants Idika Kalu in the Ministry of Finance. He also revealed that position of the coordinating minister of the economy will be scrapped in favour of an economic advisory commission.

Bolaji Abdulahi, Nigeria’s former minister of sports, may return to the ministry.

He had resigned as a minister in Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, due to his leaning towards the new PDP, a faction of the PDP which his mentor, Senator Bukola Saraki and five governors had created.

Fashola and Akeredolu are being considered as ministers of the Federal Capital Territory and Justice respectively.

General Garba is being considered by Buhari as either the defence minister, the national security adviser or the chief of staff.

General Cyril Iweze, a young Igbo officer who served directly under Buhari in the First Division before the Nigeria Civil War, may lead the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Iweze was the Nigerian commander of ECOMOG in Liberia. He is reported to have operated successfully against the Maitatsene sect unrest in the now-defunct Gongola state.

The source disclosed that the president-elect may establish a special force comprising serving officers and retired officers, who would be given a mandate to finish off the Boko Haram terrorism.

Nda Isaiah, the founder of Leadership newspaper, who was noted for his ‘Big Ideas’ when he ran for the APC presidential candidacy, may become the minister of education.

However, it is understood that nominees for the APC administration would be liable for a  public assets declaration.

Sources disclosed that Buhari will not have those whose assets run into billions in his administration, as he wants to wage serious war against corruption.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s Ministers List: New Details Emerge

Nigerian Bulletin has published its prediction list of Buhari’s ministers. Some names are the same.

Read it below:

1. Oby Ezekwesili — Predicted as the new minister of education and youth development

2. Babatunde Raji Fashola — Predicted as the new minister of works and housing (F.M.W.&H.)

3. Dr. Chris Ngige — Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment

4. Tam David West — Predicted as the new minister of petroleum resources

5. Tonye Cole- Predicted as the new minister of finance

6. Rotimi Amaechi — Predicted as the new minister of solid minerals development

7. Dr. Adewumi Adeshina — Predicted as the new minister of agriculture and natural resources

8. Jide Idris — Predicted as the new minister of health and social services

9. Chief Femi Falana — Predicted as the new minister of justice

10. Abike Dabiri — Predicted as the new minister of information and culture

11. Segun Arganga — Predicted as the new minister of foreign affairs

12. Ben Akubueze– Predicted as the new minister of National Planning Commission

Professor Charles Soludo the former CBN governor, as was reported earlier, may have been offered the Ministry of Finance in the Buhari government by the ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Meanwhile, the APC said that in the true tradition of the party, all issues of public interest will be handled transparently and conveyed to Nigerians through the usual communication channels.

It should be noted that Buhari arrived Abuja yesterday on April 20, to name the people who will form his transition committee.

He has already met with the former president Olusegun Obasanjo and  with the president of Cote D’Ivoire, Allassane Quattara.

Source: Legit.ng