Posted by From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation on
Ministers are lobbying for new portfolios, following the Supreme Court's verdict on the election of the President, it was learnt yesterday.
Ministers are lobbying for new portfolios, following the Supreme Court's verdict on the election of the President, it was learnt yesterday.
Besides, President Umaru Yar'Adua is re-strategising to increase the performance pace of his administration.
Some of the 20 surviving ministers are battling to retain their portfolios and many are lobbying to move to new ministries.
The key ministries in contention are those of Energy(Petroleum Resources), (Power) and (Gas); Federal Capital Territory Administration; Health; Education; Finance; the newly-created Niger Delta; Water Resources and Agriculture.
Some of the ministers have been meeting with members of the Yar'Adua kitchen cabinet on why they would like to change portfolios.
Others are making entreaties to the President's friends to intercede on their behalf for reposting.
A highly-placed source said: "Despite the fact that the President has always emphasised that ministries are of equal status, many of the surviving ministers want redeployment to other ministries.
"The case of a few ministers supervising some ministries is worse. If they have their way, they would like to remain in the ministries that they are temporarily superintending because of the visibility being enjoyed.
"Some ministers are also lobbying because the cabinet shake-up has enabled the President to appreciate their potential unlike in the past when they worked under the shadow of their substantive ministers."
It was gathered that the coming into the cabinet of such as coming of technocrats is Dr. Rilwan Lukman, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, Prof. Dora Akunyili, and Sir Ufot Ekaette, is creating discomfort for some of the surviving ministers.
"They believe that if they are not taken to high-profile ministries, the performance of these technocrats might make them irrelevant," the source added.
But, most ministers are not willing to be made the Attorney-General of the Federation Mr. Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) is the incumbent.
Although some forces opposed to Aondoakaa on some legal issues are pushing for his removal, it was learnt that the yeoman's job of the AGF during the hearing of the Presidential Election Appeal had endeared him to the President.
A source said lawyers in the cabinet are not ready to replace Aondoakaa whose office is regarded as "too demanding".
Some of the lawyers in the cabinet are Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) and Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN).
A source said: "Ironically, some members of the cabinet are not too keen to hold the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation where they can easily step on toes and run into a controversy on some laws.
"The AGF's post is also considered highly academic, with the holder having sleepless nights to provide legal back-up for major policies.
"In fact, a minister openly said he does not want to be AGF because you cannot do that job without running into a controversy that could mar your career."
Yar'Adua is said to be re-strategising to increase the pace of his performance.
A source said: "With the victory of Friday, the President is psychologically at peace to increase his performance pace. There is no more distraction.
"And he has told his team to brace up for the challenges ahead."
Asked how the President will increase his pace, the source added: "The structure of the cabinet will be transformed with technocrats playing vital roles in critical ministries.
"A new evaluation benchmark is being worked out too by the President."
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, told our correspondent last Thursday that the structure of the new cabinet might be unfolded in two weeks.
He had said: "I have no clue on that, but within the next two weeks the whole process should be completed."