Outright shock, disbelief and disappointment united most Nigerians in their reaction to the long-awaited cabinet list unveiled last week by Senate President Bukola Saraki. The 21 ministerial nominees fell short of expectation in view of its composition; but more because the President gave himself four months to search for the dream team that would drive his promised change, only to end up with the same people with fossilized ideas that have marooned the nation to its present lackluster position. If as said, morning tells the day, then the APC promised “change” might just be another political slogan. Nigerians expected Buhari to appoint men and women of proven integrity and outstanding track record; leaders endowed with the gift of steady application; who in range of vision and depth of conception tower above their contemporaries. Nigeria needs leaders of iron resolve, indomitable courage and sharp intellect, who live above the fog in public duty and in private thinking; the ones who would look the President in the eye and speak truth to power when the president’s policies are inimical to the health of the nation; leaders with an exceptional sense of history to lead Nigeria out of the doldrums; not tired old men, tottering on the borders of senile decay.
The list of ministerial nominees is pathetic. Given the bad governance that has given vent to mass unemployment, abject poverty, high corruption, impunity and gross official recklessness, the country certainly deserves better. How can Buhari expect change from clueless, tired old men, ill-equipped for the enormous responsibility of 21st century nation-building? Even if their age is no problem; what about the age of their ideas? The nation undoubtedly gets a raw deal when the wrong people run the country – garbage in, garbage out! Democracy thrives on regenerative change, so the point must be driven home to Buhari, in whatever language he understands that at 72 years, it is absurd for him to be ruling Nigeria, let alone parading himself as a change agent.
There is no question on Buhari’s constitutional right to appoint his cabinet. But could it be that there are no other qualified and competent Nigerians to be appointed ministers? Certainly not! The President should have cast around and pick from Nigeria’s best and brightest not the same expired and spent forces, who bear direct responsibility for the woeful state of the country today. Putting them in charge of the nation’s affairs, only offers them another opportunity to continue repeating their old mistakes. Nigerians await the change for the better that Buhari promised and which they voted for. Absolutely no excuses will be acceptable for politics-as-usual, or for outright non-performance. The failure by the president to ensure the country is governed by the best hands is a betrayal of the cause of change that confounded even Buhari’s most ardent supporters.
It is indeed unfortunate that the main criterion for Buhari’s choice of ministers was loyalty. The nominees are people who have been loyal either to the President or his party. The question is; why the long wait; only to end up with the status quo? The expectation was that as a change agent, Buhari would break with precedent and assign specific portfolios to his controversial nominees. But he did not; hence the Senate which will screen them will not know their portfolios, meaning it will be the traditional “take a bow and go” exercise as most questions will be about personal integrity and political loyalty rather than technical expertise and competence in any specific portfolio. This is a tragedy for Nigeria!
Granted, that, the president had to grapple with the federal character provisions, which require one minister from each of the 36 states, including the PDP-dominated Southeast. And reducing the size of government, without alienating critical constituencies within the myriad of interest groups that make up the APC, required striking a delicate balance between technocrats and politicians. Still, settling for men of yesteryears that have been in political limbo, and are seeking rehabilitation, betrays a profoundly disturbing and confounding disposition by the president to compromise with vested interests that have taken the country hostage. This creates a human and institutional integrity problem for the country.
Given the president’s assurances, Nigerians expected to see in the list, names of renowned technocrats in the roll-call of academics and professionals of repute and there is no disputing the fact that there are such men and women in abundance, both within and outside the country. Nigerians are confused and are asking whether Buhari is really serious when he appoints people like Audu Ogbeh, former PDP chair. Ordinarily, a man like Ogbeh should be facing creeping senility. Ogbeh and Amina Mohammed (Gombe) are of the older generation of former PDP figures who worked with former President Obasanjo to defeat Jonathan. Their inclusion in the cabinet is merely an invitation to “just come and chop”.
The triumvirate of ex-governors: Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), speaks directly to the politicization of the process. Despite their frenziedly propagandized achievements, to what extent did these governors positively impact their states? Obviously, it is compensation for their contributions to the APC victory as directors of Fund-raising, Campaigning, and Policy and Strategy respectively. Both Fashola and Fayemi are tactical allies of Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his tussle with their mentor-turned-rival, Bola Tinubu. With Lai Mohammed (Kwara), a Tinubu loyalist and APC spokesman, most likely to occupy the Information portfolio, this team of rivals is a disaster waiting to happen; given Lai’s petulance, foul temperament and high penchant for controversy. Amaechi’s appointment, depending on the Ministry he is given, may also prompt fresh tensions in Rivers, where his arch-rival, Nyesom Wike (PDP) is governor.
If for no other reason, Buhari hopes that Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi) will represent the former All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) faction, which he chaired, in the APC; and help win over the southeast, where the APC lacks traction. Former Anambra Governor Chris Ngige is the other southeast nominee, and despite his mixed record in office, is perhaps the APC’s biggest name in that region. Ibe Kachikwu (Delta) is a surprise inclusion, having already been appointed NNPC Managing. He is likely to be junior petroleum minister, taking instructions from Buhari who will head the Oil ministry.
Lt. General Bello Dambazau (Kano) was army chief of staff during the presidential transition from Yar’Adua to Jonathan. He represents the old-style military establishment keen to restore the army’s lost glory and prestige. He’s a likely candidate for Defence or Police Affairs. Senator Abubakar Sirika is a long-time Buhari associate from his Congress for Progressive Change party and hails from his home state of Katsina. Aisha Al-Hassan failed in her effort to become Nigeria’s first female governor in Taraba. Her nomination is a consolation. While Buhari is free to choose those who are loyal to him and his party, the issue here is whether such loyalty would also mean loyalty to the task of changing Nigeria. Most of these nominees have little or no personal pedigree of leadership and passion for public service. They were the by-product of the godfather syndrome. Nigeria needs men and women who can bring fresh ideas into governance to deliver on the positive change promised by the president.
As President, Buhari bears direct responsibility for the perfidy and ineptitude of his government. With serious economic, infrastructural and security challenges to contend with, the worries of an average Nigerian are about the basic necessities of life -food, shelter, healthcare, education and jobs all of which remain elusive. One thing the president must do is to ensure that ministers take ultimate responsibility for what happens under their watch. The buck must stop at someone’s desk! Public office is a call to national duty and only the ready, willing, and able deserves it. To dispense ministerial positions as a favor to party loyalists and the well-connected is doing a great disservice to the country. The decision of course is that of the President. Needless to say how well his Ministers perform will determine Buhari’s own report card as well as his place in history.
