Buhari Is Picking His Ministers; The Power Play Begins

The wait for President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet appears to be throwing up a lot of intrigues and suspense among party stakeholders, writes Chibuzo Ukaibe of Leadership:

President Buhari bears a burden of change. For an experienced administrator who understands that the buck stops at his desk, picking a team would be tasking as it would require a detailed introspection.

As it stands, he has made it clear that he intends to make a total departure from the status-quo in selecting his cabinet - he is now picking his team by himself.

He, perhaps, is mindful of the notion that the character of his cabinet will signpost how his government will be regarded.

What’s more? Having ran a far-reaching campaign, raising public expectations to an all-time high in run for the presidential office, it is quite instructive that his ministers are not just the best the country can offer, but must be answerable to him alone as their boss.

Beside his plans to have a smaller cabinet in line with constitutional provisions on the selection process, Buhari had questioned the logic behind why governors or anybody would tend to determine his cabinet, which naturally should be answerable to him.

In a recent interview, Buhari, when asked if he had outlined his cabinet and identified those he wants to work with said, “I am not just speaking about it, I have not put anything on paper, so nobody has seen it and I haven’t discussed it with anybody. I am just keeping it close to my chest”.

On further questioning on the outline, he noted, “I have been around long enough to know people that I can approach for things like that”.

For the better part of the 16 years, of the democracy, albeit under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was for the governors of the party and some other influential members of the party that make recommendations or nominate persons they deem fit for ministerial positions.

This practice, in Nigeria’s presidential system, which could be explained as an act towards inclusiveness was, however, usually indicative of political patronage or deferment to strong political actors for their roles in securing victory for the party at the elections.

In turn, the governors or political leaders would nominate party members or cronies as sign of compensation for loyalty or to firm up their political base.

Often, political considerations tended to take prominence over competence in the selection of ministers, it would seem.

To this much, Buhari said, “Well, I am an ardent listener of the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from 6 to 7am every day. I am going to quote myself because I heard in one of the interviews where I said the type of people I am supposed to appoint in the cabinet, the secretary to the government of the federation and service chiefs will be different from how the PDP appointed its own. Definitely, the system is going to be different from what we had under the PDP, where governors nominated ministers”.

Last week, he forwarded names of his advisers to the National Assembly to be cleared. Also, he has appointed his media team. It is yet to be known how much political influence came to bear in the selection of his aides.

However, while the times are different and casting away this practice may be daring, whether or not it is politically correct is another matter.

Already, analysts are wondering whether this move will go down well with the governors and other stakeholders of the party, who would feel shut out or slighted by the president’s decision.

This is because the elections had hardly ended than intense jostling began for ministerial positions and other juicy slots. Names were bandied about as part of lobby for positions by party chieftains for those regarded as technocrats.

The lobby for offices also took the another dimension with agitation for what offices should be zoned to which geo-political region. Already, some offices like the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has reportedly been zoned to the South- east, while clamours are on for the Petroleum Ministry to go to the South-south.

Weeks after he won the election, reports had it that the president directed governors, elected on the platform of his party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) to forward three names as ministerial nominees from their states.

It was gathered that two criteria were given to the governors, which their nominees must meet, namely technical competence and proven integrity as well as loyalty to the party.

It was, however, learnt that the governors were told that the president reserved the right to choose anyone from the three names submitted by each governor.

As his inauguration drew close a new narrative emerged. Reports surfaced that Buhari rejected the ministerial list sent to him by the state governors and the party leadership in the states.

The argument was that it was out of place for the state governors to handpick his ministers for him, even when they, on their own, undertake the appointment of state commissioners.

A party source stated that, “he is insisting that no one has the right to appoint ministers for him since he would not appoint commissioners for any of the state governors.”

It was further reported that his decision to leave the country days before the inauguration was to stay away from pressures.

The role of the party leadership in stabilising the issue is critical, analysts opine. Some have argued that the supremacy of the party could help to nip some of these nagging issues in the bud.

However, in same interview, while referring to the supremacy of the party on such matters, Buhari deffered to the supremacy of the party saying, “That doesn’t mean that the supremacy of the party should tamper with courtesy to whoever is the elected president of the country. There is nothing wrong with the exercise they have done. They haven’t named who are to be in the offices they have been zoned. It is a matter of courtesy for us to discuss it before you allow it to leak to the press. But if you allowed it to leak to the press, then it becomes a matter of speculation.”

However, the party leadership after a meeting with Buhari last week, doused any tensions that may be brewing over the ministerial list.

Asked after the meeting why the long wait for the ministerial list, the national chairman of APC, John Oyegun said, “All I can say is that Mr President is committed to carrying the party along in everything that he does and we are very grateful for that. He has always been like that; he has put the party in the front-burner in all the things he does at all times and he has continued to do that”.

With the financial precarious time in Nigeria, the idea to cut down cost and streamline the ministries is welcomed as it would help to illustrate why the president should surround himself with people that can make sacrifices like him.

Moreso, often touted as one of the most prepared presidents in the country, there will be little or no excuse for any inability to perform as the weight of delivering results as early as possible is crucial.

Already, there are speculations that Buhari will keep the Petroleum Minister portfolio for himself in the new cabinet rather than trust anyone else with the ministry, which is the mainstay of the country’s revenue.

Buhari has served as head of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and oil minister, including overseeing the construction of refineries in the country. He therefore boasts of a clear understanding of the sector and if this move is anything to go by, it shows a mindset that he would want to be in charge of his cabinet.

Speaking on the issue, Mr Deji Adebola, a political scientist 
said, “Let’s get somethings clear. There must be recommendations one way or the other. People must be consulted for specific positions. However, the debate has always been for nobody to be imposed on the president. Well, I am pretty sure that for a leader as experienced as Buhari, I doubt if anybody can do so. If anything, his recent declaration that he belongs to everybody and to nobody is quite instructive,” he said.

Another commentator, Musa Abubakar said, “ I hope for once we can have real technocrats to do the job. Under the PDP years, we had mixed experiences of competent people, mediocres and others who were just passive. And as much as we want the president to ensure that members of his party are not alienated and feel abandoned, it is crucial that he understands that he will be the one held responsible if his government fails”.

However, an APC enthusiast, Mathew Oduoye said, “First, it is essential to note that the president should be given the key role of deciding the people he will work with. As much as I am open to him, working with only competent people across board, we also want him to be mindful of working with people that are loyal to him and understand the manifesto of the party. I do believe that the APC has a plethora of competent and experienced members in all the sectors.

“That said, it is also important to bear in mind that the stakes are very high, he has to hit the ground running and results need to start showing if the party will be able to sustain its goodwill not to talk of retaining leadership by 2019”.

Nevertheless, these are, indeed, critical times, particularly with the different approach at forming his cabinet. Such an approach will be needed if he would continue to enjoy the support of his party and his loyalists, shut naysayers and possibly make converts of some of his fiercest critics.