Posted by By Matthew Green on
Umaru Yar'Adua, Nigeria's president, has sacked nearly half his cabinet as a first step towards a long-awaited reshuffle that many Nigerians hope will signal the start of a new phase of more dynamic leadership.
Umaru Yar'Adua, Nigeria's president, has sacked nearly half his cabinet as a first step towards a long-awaited reshuffle that many Nigerians hope will signal the start of a new phase of more dynamic leadership.
The president has, however, yet to name replacements for the 20 ministers he removed late on Wednesday, raising the risk that the tortuous process of rejuvenating his team could drag on for even longer.
A presidential aide told the FT that a new list of ministers had already been prepared. The next team must be approved by the senate.
Mr Yar'Adua's advisers have been holding out the promise of a reshuffle for more than six months to counter a perception in political and business circles that the 17-month-old administration lacks the punch to deliver promised reforms.
Much will hinge on whether Mr Yar'Adua, who inherited a legacy of appointments from Olusegun Obasanjo, his predecessor, can prove that he has been able to entice untainted high-fliers into his government.
By introducing a more credible team, Mr Yar'Adua may go some way to countering fears that he is lacks the political -- and physical -- strength to effectively lead the boisterous country of 140m people.
The government's lacklustre performance so far has fed speculation that Mr Yar'Adua's health problems are weighing heavily on his day-to-day activities. The lethargic pace of change has earned him the nickname 'Baba go-slow' after the Nigerian slang for the traffic jams snarling up Lagos, the commercial capital.
Details of medical treatment the president underwent in Saudi Arabia in August have not been made public, feeding an endless swirl of rumours. An appeal seeking to overturn Mr Yar'Adua's victory in flawed elections in May last year is still pending before the Supreme Court, adding to the mood of uncertainty.
The perception of drift at the centre has contributed to a growing sense of crisis in Africa's biggest oil industry, plagued by attacks in the Niger Delta and inertia in the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Executives from Western majors say they have not been able to meet Mr Yar'Adua, who is energy minister, since June.
Although Mr Yar'Adua's government has shown signs of maintaining fiscal discipline by cutting spending plans to cope with the impact of falling oil prices, the administration has yet to prove it can deliver on promises to overhaul the oil and gas industry and solve chronic power shortages blunting economic growth.