The Presidential Advisory Council chaired by Lt.
Gen Theophilus Danjuma may have disagreed with the Peoples Democratic
Party leadership on the composition of President Goodluck Jonathan’s
next cabinet.
It was learnt that while the influential advisory council has reiterated its call on the Jonathan to reduce the number of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government in order to save cost, PDP leaders believe that the status quo be maintained.
The current Federal Executive Council is made up of 43 ministers from the 36 states of the federation. Some states have two representatives.
THE PUNCH learnt on Sunday that the President had contacted some members of the PAC as part of his consultations with interest groups and the PDP on the formation of the new cabinet after his inauguration on May 29.
A top PDP member, who made this known in Abuja, however, did not give the names of the council members whose input Jonathan sought.
He said, “The President has begun a nationwide consultation. He has already consulted many PAC members who reiterated the advice they gave him in January. They told him to trim his cabinet and ensure that he appointed technocrats who could deliver.”
The member, who did not want his name in print, disclosed that the PDP leaders believe that the advice was not in the interest of the party.
A PAC member and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, had in a recent interview with Saturday PUNCH, advised the President to appoint qualified technocrats as ministers.
Nwuche had said that it would be very difficult for a country to attain substantial development without the contribution of technocrats.
According to him, only the best technocrats in the country will be good enough to be appointed into the next Federal Executive Council.
He said, “We need the best for this country. Mr. President should appoint technocrats for the task ahead. This will help in the speedy development of the country.”
To counter PAC members, it was gathered that PDP chiefs had compiled a list of ministerial nominees, which they would soon present to the President for consideration.
Another PDP chief, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The President should not take the advice of the PAC members hook, line and sinker. If party members are not appointed as ministers, what is their reward for working for the success of the party?”
The disagreement between PAC and the PDP in the composition of the next cabinet came even some former and outgoing governors are believed to have initiated moves to replace nominees already pencilled in by their state chapters of the PDP.
For instance, a source in Osun State, said former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is eyeing a ministerial appointment. But he is said to be opposed by a camp in the state PDP , which has Chief Abiola Ogundokun as one its top members.
Ogundokun said, “All the party’s executives who spoilt the party must be removed from their positions. The party, under a former Chairman of the PDP collected several millions of naira from aspirants, wishing to contest on the platform of the party.
“The national headquarters of the party directed the party to refund the money to the aspirants but the state executive refused.”
According to Ogundokun, “Abuja must not relate with us on individual level. Abuja should relate with us as a party and Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun is the leader of the elders’ forum of Osun PDP.
“The Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, is the highest federal appointee in Osun. Therefore, no Osun PDP member should solicit for federal appointments without carrying the elders’ forum along.”
By Niyi Odebode and Tunde Odesola Courtesy Of: Punch
It was learnt that while the influential advisory council has reiterated its call on the Jonathan to reduce the number of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government in order to save cost, PDP leaders believe that the status quo be maintained.
The current Federal Executive Council is made up of 43 ministers from the 36 states of the federation. Some states have two representatives.
THE PUNCH learnt on Sunday that the President had contacted some members of the PAC as part of his consultations with interest groups and the PDP on the formation of the new cabinet after his inauguration on May 29.
A top PDP member, who made this known in Abuja, however, did not give the names of the council members whose input Jonathan sought.
He said, “The President has begun a nationwide consultation. He has already consulted many PAC members who reiterated the advice they gave him in January. They told him to trim his cabinet and ensure that he appointed technocrats who could deliver.”
The member, who did not want his name in print, disclosed that the PDP leaders believe that the advice was not in the interest of the party.
A PAC member and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, had in a recent interview with Saturday PUNCH, advised the President to appoint qualified technocrats as ministers.
Nwuche had said that it would be very difficult for a country to attain substantial development without the contribution of technocrats.
According to him, only the best technocrats in the country will be good enough to be appointed into the next Federal Executive Council.
He said, “We need the best for this country. Mr. President should appoint technocrats for the task ahead. This will help in the speedy development of the country.”
To counter PAC members, it was gathered that PDP chiefs had compiled a list of ministerial nominees, which they would soon present to the President for consideration.
Another PDP chief, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The President should not take the advice of the PAC members hook, line and sinker. If party members are not appointed as ministers, what is their reward for working for the success of the party?”
The disagreement between PAC and the PDP in the composition of the next cabinet came even some former and outgoing governors are believed to have initiated moves to replace nominees already pencilled in by their state chapters of the PDP.
For instance, a source in Osun State, said former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is eyeing a ministerial appointment. But he is said to be opposed by a camp in the state PDP , which has Chief Abiola Ogundokun as one its top members.
Ogundokun said, “All the party’s executives who spoilt the party must be removed from their positions. The party, under a former Chairman of the PDP collected several millions of naira from aspirants, wishing to contest on the platform of the party.
“The national headquarters of the party directed the party to refund the money to the aspirants but the state executive refused.”
According to Ogundokun, “Abuja must not relate with us on individual level. Abuja should relate with us as a party and Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun is the leader of the elders’ forum of Osun PDP.
“The Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, is the highest federal appointee in Osun. Therefore, no Osun PDP member should solicit for federal appointments without carrying the elders’ forum along.”
By Niyi Odebode and Tunde Odesola Courtesy Of: Punch
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