Posted by TAIWO ADISA, Abuja on
LOBBYING for Abia State's ministerial slot vacated last week by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.....
LOBBYING for Abia State's ministerial slot vacated last week by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reached a high point in Abuja at the weekend as the Nigerian Tribune gathered that Okonjo-Iweala may be replaced by the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Joy Ogwu.
Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that Ogwu, who hails from Delta State, may be named the new Foreign Afairs Minister in line with the practice during the days of the military, where Directors General of the NIIA were often drafted to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Sources also confirmed that President Olusegun Obasanjo might have decided to pick a high profile person in order to successfully close the gap vacated by Okonjo-Iweala, a World Bank technocrat.
'Ogwu's name started making the rounds on Friday and I can confirm to you that the president is giving serious thoughts to that," a source said.
If Ogwu gets it, Delta State would have three people in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The other Delta State representatives are the Minister of Police Affairs, Ferederick Bozimo, and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Roland Orisetjafor.
It was further revealed that lobbyists for the slot of Abia State intensified their efforts but were told that the presidency favoured a serving diplomat for the post.
Sources confirmed that the diplomat may have already been nominated as he was summoned to the presidential Villa for discussions.
Those who were also considered for the post included the Special assistant to the President on Public Communications, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, former deputy governor in the state, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe, the former boss of Hallmark Bank Plc, Sir Mac Wabara, and two diplomats.
Presidency sources, however, told the Nigerian Tribune that the credentials of of the diplomat were compelling.
Sources also confirmed that a minor cabinet reshuffle would herald the appointment of Ogwu and the new Abia nominee when they were eventually confirmed by the Senate.