Intense lobbies by formidable figures, including political, religious and traditional leaders are distracting President Bola Tinubu from reshuffling his cabinet, sources in the Presidency have revealed. It would be recalled that Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, recently disclosed that the President would reshuffle the cabinet on or before the nation’s October 1st Independence Day. But such was not to be as the Independence Day has come and gone with the President yet to do so.
A source in the Presidency, who craved anonymity, because he could not speak officially for the government, said: “The original plan was for the President to announce his new cabinet on or before Independence Day. The President has consistently been tinkering with the list on his table. Each time you think he was done, there would be new development that would necessitate addition and subtraction of nominees on the list. Most times, this frequent change of mind were caused by the activities of lobbyists.” Another source disclosed that the President opted to depart for London for a two-week leave and retreat because he was being inundated by lobbyists, especially those seeking to be appointed ministers and other political bloc-leaders across the country seeking appointments for their proteges.
He said: “Lobbyists are leaving no stone unturned. Political, traditional and religious leaders across the country are involved in these horse trading. That possibly was part of the reasons why the President opted to go to London for his two-week working leave, so that he would not be distracted.” He continued: “It will interest you that those perceived to be close to the President, including the First Lady, his children and close political allies, are under serious pressure from serving ministers and others seeking appointments to exert their influences on the President in their favour. So, you find that several interests are involved. Now that he’s left for London, this intense pressure will, at least, abate.” Asked how many of the serving ministers he thought would be dropped by the President, the source said: “That would be difficult to answer. This is because if I tell you he would drop anyone now, it would just be a mere guess. This is because performance alone won’t be the consideration. If it’s only by performance, about half of the Ministers would have to go. But political considerations ahead of 2027 Presidential election is germane to the President. By the way, the President has the power to hire and fire. Don’t forget that.”
In fact, a former governor in one of the states confirmed to Sunday Telegraph that the lobbying has been intense. He said it involved people from even outside the ruling All Progressives Congress. Some PDP members, who are close to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, are said to be also working on them to intercede for them before the president. According to him:“Politics and politicians are mercurial. Anything can change at any time.”
However, it was further learnt that apart from having some rest and routine medical treatment, the president may have travelled to London to focus more without distraction. Sources said it was because of the UK trip that the president sent his Deputy, Kashim Shettima to the United States to represent him at the just ended United Nations General Assembly, UNGA. A source said: “What happened was that he was supposed to have joined some of the latest interventions at the United Nations General Assembly. But he rushed home from the UK to swear in the Chief Justice of Nigeria (Kudirat Kekere – Ekun). That was why he had to ask his Deputy to go and represent him at the United Nations General Assembly. The original plan was for him to go to the US for the UNGA and then from there go on his recent trip. But then, his handlers and his inner caucus believe that would not be nice for his image to go from one country to another without coming to Nigeria, with the myriad of issues going on at home. “That was why the Vice president was asked to go and represent him, so that he could come back home.”
He added: “The thinking is that it may become a pattern that if care is not taken, he may surpass his predecessor (Buhari) in travelling abroad. On the number of times he has jetted out of the country is becoming frightening. And if care is not taken, he will overtake Buhari in the number of times he has travelled out of the country. What people are worried about is that governance is suffering while the president is junketing about it.” “However, his handlers said there is nothing to worry about. That was why they said he is on a working vacation. Since he is not going for an extended period, he did not hand over to his deputy. The president is on top of his job as he has constantly done that.”
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