New cabinet: Shocker awaits ex-PDP governors

Despite the submission of their names to President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not get automatic nomination into the cabinet, it was learnt yesterday.
Besides, about 10 outgoing ministers may be retained by the President.
Some of the candidates nominated are undergoing security checks to guide the President properly on their antecedents.

The President is weighing his options on some ex-governors who have been nominated by their states for ministerial jobs.
It was gathered that the poor performance of some former governors has made the Presidency to be cautious on the nomination of ex-governors.
A presidency source, who spoke in confidence, said: “It is true that some ex-governors have been nominated by their state branches of the PDP, but it is not automatic for the President to pick them.
“Jonathan has not assured any former governor; he has not entered into any commitment with some former governors, who have cases pending before anti-graft agencies.
“It is sad that some leaders of our party are making an issue out of nothing. There is no basis for this hullabaloo.
“And if you take into account the attitude of some ex-governors, who later became ministers, some of our leaders do not want them to be appointed into the cabinet.
“During the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, a former governor was openly castigated at a cabinet meeting for holding a lavish birthday party.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “The President is still screening the list submitted to him with the assistance of security agencies.
“Some of the nominated candidates are already undergoing security checks to enable the President make the right judgment. As usual, the list is cumbersome.
“I can, however, assure you that the ministerial list will be ready before the inauguration of the 7th National Assembly.”
It was also gathered that about eight to 10 outgoing ministers may make Jonathan’s cabinet.
The Presidency source added: “Some cabinet members will surely be returned to office although their portfolios may change.”
The crisis of confidence among PDP leaders in the Southwest is giving Jonathan a concern.
It was learnt that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has embarked on a trouble-shooting mission among warring ministerial aspirants in the Southwest.
The affected states are Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo.
Obasanjo has met with some PDP leaders and ministers on the controversy over the nomination of some aspirants by the party.
A source said: “Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has stepped into the challenge we are having in the South-West.
“There is a move to streamline the list in such a way that it will assist the President to make good choices from the zone.
“We are hopeful that in the next few days, we will be able to resolve all these disagreements. It is a shame that even in Ondo, the PDP secretariat was sacked by some thugs over ministerial politics.”
Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the President to constitute his cabinet.

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