Its no longer news that after one month of his inuaguration as the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is yet to name his executive cabinet.
However, more facts have emerged as to why the president hasnt named his cabinet.
According to an insider, President Buhari is reluctant to build on a “rotten foundation” he inherited from the PDP administration.
“You cannot even begin to imagine the situation we have met on the ground,” he said. “Almost everything is in a state of decay. There is absolutely no way the new government can hope to achieve anything long-lasting without first building a new foundation.”
The source likened President Buhari’s plan of action to that of a doctor who first has to break a poorly set bone afresh, before resetting it to allow for smooth and proper growth. Over the past week, the Commander-in-Chief has come under criticism from various sources in the media, who are worried that he has had more than three months since his election, including a month since his inauguration, yet no cabinet appointments have been made.
Responding to this, the source pointed out that it would be impossible to appoint ministers to portfolios, without first knowing which portfolios exist and which will be abolished.
“The president plans to cut down the number of ministries and parastatals,” he said. “He wants to cut down the cost of running government. He wants to make sure that all the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive are blocked. All these are procedures that require time and careful planning. You cannot do it in a rush.”
He added that President Buhari could not realistically have begun this process without first receiving the full report of the transition committee and ascertaining exactly the situation his government faced.
“Remember that he has to make sure that all this is done without any job losses or mass retrenchments,” he said. “All this is not a day’s or one-month job.”
The source also denied news reports which stated that President Buhari’s lack of cabinet appointments had ground government to a halt, insisting that civil servants have been supervising the day-to-day running of ministries and that Permanent Secretaries of the various ministries all have full access to the President.
“All these reports and agitations are being fuelled by politicians who want to put pressure on the President,” he said. “They have tried doing it other ways and those haven’t worked. Now, they are trying to use the media. They only want their cronies appointed to Ministerial posts anyhow and they are fuelling the agitation through newspapers.
He advised the Nigerian media not to fall for the old tricks and shenanigans of politicians.
The source concluded by referring to the current crisis in the National Assembly, listing that as yet one more excuse why forming a cabinet will be impossible until further notice.
“Look at how they are fighting among themselves,” he said. “The Senate has now adjourned till July 21. That means no one to scrutinise or approve any ministerial list until the end of July.”
Reminded that the Senate has agreed to reconvene to consider the president’s ministerial nominees as soon as such list was ready, the source asked the reporters to await the President’s long-awaited intervention in the crisis between the party and the National Assembly. “The President wants to walk his talk on stable politics and being a leader for all. He has a plan for the National Assembly.”
Contacted on this issue, both of Buhari’s spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu said this narrative is the nearest to the truth than all that are being peddled by many others.
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