Cabinet reshuffle: Performance of sacked Ministers weak — Buhari

…PDP mocks Buhari

…Sack, a late decision — YPP

…Aliyu, Abubakar take over Power, Agric

By Joshua Elekwachi, Abuja & Uthman Salami

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed weak performance for the sack of two ministers yesterday during the weekly executive meeting. This includes Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Engineer Mohammed Nanono, and Power Minister, Saleh Mamman.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday described President Muhammadu Buhari’s resort to sacking the two Ministers as a ludicrous and ineffective attempt to cover for his failures in office.

Buhari in his address during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja hinted that the contributions of the ministers could be considered “weak,” stressing that the decision was taken in a bid to reinvigorate his cabinet and consolidate legacy achievements.

“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps,” he added.

The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina in a statement obtained by Nigerian NewsDirect quoted Buhari as expressing that the ministers were sacked after an independent and critical self-review of their performance.

PDP in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said the party would investigate the real reason behind their sack, given Mr. President’s public approach to fighting corruption by “easing out” the culprits.

The party asserted that the manifest inefficiency of Buhari administration is a product of Buhari’s myopic and divisive approach to governance as well as the impunity and corruption deeply embedded in his administration and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

After relieving the ministers of their jobs, President Buhari redeployed Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing was asked to take over the Power Ministry.

The PDP posited that “even if the best hands are recruited, they will be contaminated by incompetence, impunity, disregard to rules, divisiveness and corruption that have become the hallmark of the APC and its administration.”

The party called on Buhari and the APC to note that “Nigerians are not swayed by the sack of the ministers but are eagerly awaiting the exit of the Buhari Presidency and the APC come May 29, 2023, as there is no hope in sight under their purview.”

Though the president did not reveal the rating of the sacked ministers’ performances, many Nigerians have continuously complained about the poor state of power and high price of food in the country.

Buhari said the removal of the ministers was to also close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.

He said, “On Wednesday 21st August, 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in office and to emphasise the nine priority areas of government for the second term.

“Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programmes implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.

“I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly FEC meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.

“As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.”

The president explained that the sacked ministers had earlier been informed, adding that vacant positions would be filled in accordance with the constitution.

“In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.

“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation.

“Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours,” he said.

The former YPP Presidential Candidate, Prof Kingsley Moghalu said, “After six years of weak performance by his government, Buhari fired two Ministers (Agriculture and Power) who, presumably in his judgment deserved to go. It is a correct decision but very late in the day.”

Public Affairs Analyst, Adnan Mukhter said, “The process is continuous, Mr. President, should sack more ministers in his cabinet and appoint those that Nigerians will feel their impact.

“It is long overdue but a progressive step. The remaining days of this administration will be demanding and the government should do everything to attend and satisfy the demands of Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, the National President of Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim had a running battle with the former Minister of Agriculture.

He had in the past called for the sack of Nanono, over what they described as “his incompetence and lack of effective leadership in the ministry.”

In a press release he issued recently, Ibrahim had called for the probe of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on the use of intervention funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

However, the association in a statement on Wednesday congratulated the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, the former Minister of Environment.

The association said the Buhari led-administration is committed to achieving food security within the shortest possible time, adding that the change of leadership was necessary.

Ibrahim said, “All Nigerian farmers assure you of full cooperation and pray to Allah to guide you in your new assignment.

“We are willing to work assiduously to feed the 200,000,000 people of Nigeria sustainably and thereby make your job worthwhile.”