At last ten of President Muhammdu Buhari’s ministers are leaving office to vie for various elective posts in the coming general elections in 2023, the presidency has said.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
The statement was titled, ‘President Buhari to outgoing FEC members: Significant number of you sufficiently equipped to be my successor.’
The president, according to the statement, had declared that if one of the ministers turned out to be his successor, that would be a good gift from him to the nation.
The ministers who are planning to contest for various positions in next year’s elections include the following: the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
The others are the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN); Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah; the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen; and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Tayo Alasoadura and the Minister of State (Education), Emeka Nwajiuba.
Nine of them were in attendance at the valedictory service on Friday, with the exception of Nwajiuba, who was the first to tender his resignation letter to the president.
“I am happy to note that a significant number of cabinet members have become sufficiently equipped to aspire to higher elective offices, including the Office of the President. This shows the impact of the experience gathered while serving as members of the Federal Executive Council.
‘’I have no doubt that if the next President emerges from among former members of this cabinet, like any other aspirant, ample competence and outstanding service delivery would be on display. This will be part of our legacies to Nigerians.
‘’I note that some have complied while others are in the process of doing so. I would like to use this opportunity to commend your decision and courage to contest for elective offices and your compliance with my directive.
‘’I also wish to thank you for your invaluable services to this nation through your contributions as cabinet members. I wish you success in the upcoming elections and your future endeavors,’’ the president said.
He said the vacancies created by the departure of the ministers would be filled in the coming days to ensure that the business of government is not disrupted.
