In a surprising turn of events, new information has emerged about the recent cabinet reshuffle initiated by President Bola Tinubu even before the ministers were sworn into office. The reshuffling of portfolios, which took place last Wednesday, has raised eyebrows and stirred controversy within the political circles.
According to a statement released by the President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday, several ministers were reassigned to different ministries. Abubakar Momoh was redeployed from the Federal Ministry of Youth to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Development, while the Ministry of Youth is set to be assigned to a Minister-Designate in the near future.
Furthermore, ministers designated for the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Interior, and Marine and Blue Economy have also been reshuffled. Adegboyega Oyetola was reassigned as the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo as the Honourable Minister of Interior, Sa'idu Alkali as the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, and Ekperipe Ekpo as the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources.
Additionally, President Tinubu officially renamed the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as the Federal Ministry of Environment. All these changes went into immediate effect as directed by the President.
However, an inside source revealed that Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, allegedly disregarded the President's directive and assigned the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to Bunmi Tunji-Ojo instead of Gboyega Oyetola, the former Governor of Osun state. The source indicated that initially, Tinubu had promised Oyetola the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Reportedly, Gbajabiamila had been preventing Oyetola from meeting with the President even before the reshuffling. The Chief of Staff also allegedly blocked prominent figures such as Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Pius Akinyelure, James Faleke, and others from gaining access to the President.
Consequently, Oyetola expressed his frustration to the President, highlighting that the initial agreement had been broken. In response, President Tinubu assured Oyetola that the issue would be rectified and agreed to reverse the decision, returning the portfolio to Oyetola's supervision.
Furthermore, the source disclosed that Gbajabiamila aimed to bring the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) back under the presidency, giving him greater control over it. However, President Tinubu learned of this plan and decided to announce the Ministry of Niger Delta to oversee the NDDC instead of Gbajabiamila's office.
The source claimed that recent policy changes and inconsistencies were a result of the President being misled, with those who could provide clarity denied access to him. The alleged motive behind these actions seems to be an attempt to consolidate power and influence within the administration.
These developments have caused dissatisfaction among party members and supporters, who feel that the current state of affairs does not align with their expectations. Concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency and the alleged manipulation of important decisions.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how President Tinubu will address these issues and restore confidence within his cabinet. The implications of the reshuffling and subsequent allegations of power play continue to reverberate throughout Nigeria's political landscape.
Tags
News