The shape of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term cabinet is
beginning to emerge as indications emerged that former Governor of Osun
State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his estwhile Ogun State counterpart,
Ibikunle Amosun have been listed as some of those who will emerge
ministers to drive his Next Level agenda, Presidential insiders have
told Pointblanknews.com
While the portfolios for Aregbesola and Amosun are yet to be revealed,
Presidential Villa sources, said another name on the list of would be
appointees is the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue
Service (FIRS), Dr Babatunde Fowler, who is being positioned to emerge
the Auditor General.
Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State Petroleum is also on the tentative
list. Although, it is not clear if he is going to retain the same
portfolio.
Recall that Osun state under the governorship of Aregbesola became one
of the most heavily indebted states in Nigeria despite its poor internal
generated revenue profile.
Last year, Aregbesola while alluding to the debt burden of the state,
said the state’s remaining unpaid debt of N143.6 billion would be
defrayed latest by the year 2019.
Pointblanknews.com also gathered from sources at the Villa that
Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali, and Managing Director of
the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman also made the
ministerial list.
While Hameed, regarded as a close ally of Buhari, is penciled to emerge
as Defence minister, the portfolio for Bala Usman is still unclear.
Hameed had led the Buhari Campaign Organisation for 2019 presidential
election and later served as APC agent at the presidential election
collation center.
Before Bala Usman was appointed Managing Director of NPA in 2016, she
was one of the faces of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG).
It was however learnt that super minister, Babatunde Fashola, is missing
from the list of Buhari’s second term ministers. Fashola is the minister
of Power, Works and Housing.
Interestingly, Fashola had last week declared that he has delivered on
the promises he made to Nigerians three years ago concerning the power,
works and housing sectors under his ministry.
The minister while briefing the press in his Abuja office said based on
the feedback the office has been getting from the general public which
showed better experience compared to what it was in 2015, he was very
convinced that he has fulfilled his promise of incremental power, better
journey experience on the roads, affordable housing, as well as economic
opportunities for Nigerians.