What’s the Fuss about Buhari’s Cabinet?
By Kehinde Abdulsalam
On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari assigned portfolios to his 43 Ministers at the Federal Executive Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President retained the portfolio of Minister of Petroleum Resources, while Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva was announced as Minister of State for Petroleum.
Babatunde Fashola, who was the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, was stripped of the Power portfolio. Saleh Mamman, who was nominated from Taraba now occupies the position, while Goddy Agba is the Minister of State for Power.
However, shortly after the President reeled out the portfolios of his ministers, the ethic jingoists, in their usual manner, faulted him. They criticised him for favouring a particular region with ‘juicy’ portfolios, while others were left with ‘crumbs’.
One of those was a viral WhatsApp message broke down the regions that got the ‘juicy’ portfolios and those that got the ‘crumbs’.
“In a cabinet of 44 positions (Including the Petroleum Ministry which the President is warehousing) the NorthWest (The Kinsmen of @MBuhari has no Minister of State).
1. Petroleum:
2. Water Resources: Jigawa
3. Defence: Kano
4. Agriculture: Kano
5. Aviation: Kastina
6. Finance: Kaduna
7. Humanitarian Affairs: Zamfara
8. Police Affairs: Sokoto
9. Justice: Kebbi
“..and we are talking fair play, equity and justice” the broadcast message read.
To begin with, the only thing ‘fair’ for anyone to challenge would have been non-representation of a state(s) in the appointments as expressly mandated by the law.
Secondly, while it is at the prerogative of the President to assign portfolios, what important is that the ministers possess the ability to make policy decisions and skills to manage their assigned ministries.
Why then should anyone rile up tribal sentiments over the portfolios? Every ministry is strategic, and none is less important than the other. Why they were set up in the first place is to ensure that ministers play strategic roles wellbeing and development of the nation.
What is paramount is for the ministers to work hard and harness strategies/policies that will outlive their stay in office.
One also has to consider that the cabinet was expanded from 36 to 43. It is expected that instead of creating non-functioning ministries, having Minister of States will also add value in terms of expertise.
So it is crucial to discerning minds in Nigeria to understand that instead of concentrating on the region of who gets what portfolio, the minister’s scorecards are critical. The question that should be asked: How they can bring about the needed changes that’ll affect our lives positively?
About 55 per cent of Nigerians lack access to electricity. The new Minister of Power, Sale Mamman should be evaluated on what he’s bringing to the table to turn around the sector for good. Likewise other ministers.
Stocking of ethic biles over portfolios will not bring the desired changes. We need to focus on the issues to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams.
