Particulars have emerged on the explanations behind President Bola Tinubu’s choice to sack 5 ministers and go away the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in his cupboard, regardless of allegations of banditry sponsorship levelled towards him.
The ministers who had been faraway from workplace embrace Mrs Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Girls Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN (Training), Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Improvement), and Abdullahi Gwarzo (Minister of State for Housing and City Improvement).
In line with the President’s Particular Adviser on Info and Technique, Bayo Onanuga, the choice to dismiss the ministers was influenced by public notion and empirical knowledge on their efficiency.
Onanuga defined that the reshuffle got here as a response to the vital views held by Nigerians concerning the ministers’ effectiveness in workplace.
Why ministers had been sacked
Nevertheless, sources inside the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress hinted that the choice was additionally primarily based on the “lack of political worth” of the affected ministers of their respective states.
In line with an APC chieftain on the social gathering’s headquarters in Abuja, a key consideration was whether or not the removing of any of the ministers would incite political unrest of their states.
“They evaluated if their sack would result in a disaster for the president of their areas, and the suggestions was that it will not,” he mentioned.
The supply additional famous that whereas some ministers had been sacked on account of underperformance, others had been dismissed primarily based on issues over their conduct and restricted political relevance.
Bio-Ibrahim as placeholder
Saturday PUNCH was reliably knowledgeable by high officers on the Ministry of Youth Improvement that the sacked minister, Bio-Ibrahim, had been a ‘placeholder’ for Ayodele Olawande, a former Minister of State for the ministry.
In line with the officers, Olawande, who has been appointed because the substantive minister, was the favorite candidate of Seyi Tinubu, the son of the president.
The officers mentioned the sacked minister was not empowered politically, including that the system was rigged towards her.
One of many sources working within the Training and Youth Improvement division informed our correspondent that Bio-Ibrahim was a sufferer of political manipulations.
The official mentioned, “The lady is a simply sufferer of political manipulations. She didn’t get pleasure from being a minister as a result of the system was not in her favour.
“The previous Minister of State, Ayodele Ayowande, had been the selection of the presidency from day one. President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, wished Ayowande to be the substantive minister from the beginning, however he didn’t have his means. That they had since been working to take the girl out.
“One instance is that in August this yr, the girl wished to carry a programme in Ondo State to dissuade the youth from becoming a member of the #EndBadGovernance protest, however she was pissed off out of it. The individuals who didn’t need the President to know she was lively mobilised towards her and she or he couldn’t maintain the programme once more. We knew she’d be relieved of her duties finally as a result of she didn’t have help from the political class.”
Ohanenye’s drama
Sacked Minister of Girls Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, was relieved of her place due to her ‘fixed drama’ which the presidency thought of embarrassing, in line with impeccable sources who spoke to Saturday PUNCH.
The sources mentioned Ohanenye additionally stepped on many toes in her ‘aggressive strikes’ to restructure the ministry.
In line with the sources, the primary turnoff recorded towards Ohanenye was her menace to sue the United Nations for allegedly mismanaging funds meant for Nigeria.
Ohanenye had in October 2023 accused the UN of acquiring funds on behalf of the nation with out remitting them.
The previous APC feminine presidential aspirant additionally disrupted two occasions in Abuja as a result of the organisers didn’t search the permission of her ministry to take action.
“The lady is a controversial particular person. She stepped on toes together with her conduct and the President couldn’t curtail her excesses any longer. She is just too dramatic as a minister. We knew she couldn’t go far”, mentioned a supply on the APC secretariat.
Azoka-Anite’s ‘exterior’ workplace
The previous Minister of Business, Commerce and Funding, Doris Azoka-Anite, was accused of disconnecting herself from the businesses and departments underneath her ministry.
Officers of the ministry, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on situation of anonymity, mentioned she moved out of the ministry and established a brand new workplace in Abuja, making it tough for employees to hold out their duties.
Azoka-Anite was moved to the Ministry of Finance as a state minister.
A high official of the ministry mentioned, “The ministry was too massive for her to deal with. We often have two ministers; we didn’t know why the President appointed solely her to handle the ministry.
“Sadly, she was overwhelmed as a result of she wished to function alone, not prepared to work with departments and businesses underneath the ministry.
“She pissed off industrialists due to her self-styled administrative system. Every time we wished to signal a file, we would depart the ministry to go and meet her on the new private workplace she created in Abuja, and many of the information we submitted wouldn’t be returned to us. She has her workforce operating the ministry for her.
“I consider industrialists who had been pissed off by her model reported her to the President, which led to her demotion.”
Ade-John and Lagos energy bloc
Sources within the tourism business informed Saturday PUNCH that the Lagos energy bloc may need pressured President Tinubu into dropping Ade-John because the Minister of Tourism as a result of she was not a politician.
In line with the sources, Ade-John was denied entry to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on three completely different events.
The sources famous that the girl, although residing in Lagos, didn’t have any political godfather, which uncovered her to threats from politicians in Lagos and a few people who wished to take cost of the ministry.
“She could also be from Lagos by beginning, however she will not be a celebration particular person. That’s her crime. She was relieved due to stress from the Lagos energy bloc.
“The lady carried out excellently effectively. Nigeria has offended that girl as a result of she gave in her greatest and we’ve the consequence.”
The Director Normal of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism, Wale Ojo-Lanre, in an article titled, ‘Lola Ade-John: Good bye to jati jati?’, described her removing as an injustice.
“Regardless of her visionary plans and tireless work, the sudden termination of her appointment appears like a deep injustice – a traditional case of somebody being stripped of their potential simply as they’re reaching for the celebrities.
“It’s important to recognise that whereas she didn’t obtain all the pieces she got down to do, what she achieved in such a short while is nothing in need of outstanding. She laid the groundwork for future leaders to construct upon, and her legacy is not going to be forgotten”, he wrote.
Mamman’s sacking
The sacked Minister of Training, Prof Tahir Mamman, may need been relieved due to the controversies surrounding his actions and insurance policies within the training sector, Saturday PUNCH gathered.
Among the many controversies within the sector is the implementation of the 18-year minimal age coverage for college admissions, which led to public outcry.
A non-government organisation, Training for Accelerated Improvement, listed Mamman’s sins to incorporate misinformation, resulting in diplomatic battle between Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo, ensuing within the suspension of diploma programmes from universities in these international locations, amongst different points.
Matawalle’s escape
Sources defined that President Tinubu selected to retain sure ministers regardless of public dissatisfaction with their efficiency on account of issues round his potential second-term ambition and the political roles the ministers may play.
Some ministers reported to have equally underperformed included the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Marine and Blue Financial system, Gboyega Oyetola; Minister of Science and Expertise, Uche Nnaji; and Minister of Water Sources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, amongst others.
Matawalle has been repeatedly accused of sponsoring banditry in Zamfara State, an allegation he has at all times denied. Onanuga additionally said that the allegations towards him had been unproven.
An APC chieftain in Abuja disclosed that the president in the end narrowed down the listing of ministers to be sacked to keep away from ‘political stress.’
“Initially, greater than 5 ministers had been thought of for dismissal, however the president evaluated those that may very well be useful to him politically. The president is sensible and wouldn’t create challenges for himself,” the chieftain remarked.
“Do you see the president sacking any former governors presently serving as ministers? He can’t try this as a result of he is aware of they are going to be helpful for him in 2027. Amongst them, solely David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has really carried out,” the supply added.
On why Oyetola was retained, he mentioned, “Blood is thicker than water. He’s the president’s cousin; it will be unreasonable to count on his dismissal.”
The supply additionally identified the appointment of Bianka Ojukwu as a strategic political transfer to weaken opposition within the South-East zone since Ojukwu held a excessive stake within the All Progressive Grand Alliance, a celebration with excessive followership within the area.
Matawalle being shielded, Zamfara gov alleges
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State alleged that the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle, was being shielded by the Federal Authorities from accusations linking him to banditry.
By way of his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, in an announcement, Lawal accused Matawalle’s Federal Authorities connections of defending him from scrutiny.
Throughout an interview with Come up Information, Onanuga defined that President Tinubu retained Matawalle as a result of an investigation by the Workplace of the Nationwide Safety Adviser deemed the allegations of banditry connections as “mere fabrication” and politically motivated.
Nevertheless, Lawal’s spokesman disputed Onanuga’s claims, insisting the accusations weren’t politically motivated, as public safety was at stake.
“When accusations of this nature come up, particularly involving critical claims of bandit associations, the honourable factor can be for the officeholder to step apart. Efficient investigations can’t occur whereas the person stays in workplace, given their potential affect,” Idris famous.
He additional said that current arrests of infamous bandits had prompted the governor to formally report the minister.
“Now we have arrested bandits who, throughout interrogations, offered vital info. A current arrest led His Excellency to talk out after the detained particular person was reportedly despatched to Abuja for investigation however then launched again to the forest.
“We even requested the NSA to query Matawalle about sure people and the occasions over the past Ramadan celebration in Tsafe Native Authorities, the place Hilux autos carrying safety personnel reportedly distributed meals to bandits,” he added.
Idris alleged that Matawalle’s connections inside the Federal Authorities have shielded him from accountability.
“Now we have info, information, and names. So far as we all know, no thorough investigation has been performed. They’re merely defending him as a result of he’s a ‘Federal Authorities boy,’” he added.
Governor Lawal additionally criticised Matawalle’s current go to to Sokoto State in army uniform, claiming it was a show meant to avert his removing.
He added, “He did that as a result of the cupboard reshuffle was imminent.
“There was no sincerity in his actions. Ask him why he hasn’t returned to Zamfara. If he says the governor would forestall him, it’s a lie. Following the Court docket of Enchantment’s ruling on Zamfara’s election, he instantly visited the state, however he hasn’t returned for the reason that Supreme Court docket’s judgment.”
Makes an attempt to succeed in Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Matawalle’s media aide, for feedback had been unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
“The lady is a controversial particular person. She stepped on toes together with her conduct and the President couldn’t curtail her excesses any longer. She was too dramatic as a minister. We knew she couldn’t go far”, mentioned a supply on the APC secretariat.
Uzoka-Anite’s ‘exterior’ workplace
The previous Minister of Business, Commerce and Funding, Doris Uzoka-Anite, was accused of disconnecting herself from the businesses and departments underneath her ministry.
Officers of the ministry, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on situation of anonymity, mentioned she moved out of the ministry and established a brand new workplace in Abuja, making it tough for employees to hold out their duties.
Uzoka-Anite was moved to the Ministry of Finance as a minister of state.
A high official of the ministry mentioned, “The ministry was too massive for her to deal with. We often have two ministers; we didn’t know why the President appointed solely her to handle the ministry.
“Sadly, she was overwhelmed as a result of she wished to function alone, and was not prepared to work with departments and businesses underneath the ministry.
“She pissed off industrialists due to her self-styled administrative system. Every time we wished to signal a file, we would depart the ministry to go and meet her on the new private workplace she created in Abuja, and many of the information we submitted wouldn’t be returned to us. She had her workforce operating the ministry for her.
“I consider industrialists who had been pissed off by her model reported her to the President, which led to her demotion.”
Ade-John and Lagos energy bloc
Sources within the tourism business informed Saturday PUNCH that the Lagos energy bloc may need pressured President Tinubu into dropping Ade-John because the Minister of Tourism as a result of she was not a politician.
In line with the sources, Ade-John was denied entry to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on three completely different events.
The sources famous that the girl, although residing in Lagos, didn’t have any political godfather, which uncovered her to threats from politicians in Lagos and a few people who wished to take cost of the ministry.
“She could also be from Lagos by beginning, however she will not be a celebration particular person. That’s her crime. She was relieved due to stress from the Lagos energy bloc.
“The lady carried out excellently effectively. Nigeria has offended that girl as a result of she gave in her greatest and we’ve the consequence.”
The Director Normal of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism, Wale Ojo-Lanre, in an article titled, ‘Lola Ade-John: Good bye to jati jati?’, described her removing as an injustice.
“Regardless of her visionary plans and tireless work, the sudden termination of her appointment appears like a deep injustice – a traditional case of somebody being stripped of their potential simply as they’re reaching for the celebrities.
“It’s important to recognise that whereas she didn’t obtain all the pieces she got down to do, what she achieved in such a short while is nothing in need of outstanding. She laid the groundwork for future leaders to construct upon, and her legacy is not going to be forgotten,” he wrote.
Mamman’s sacking
The sacked Minister of Training, Prof Tahir Mamman, may need been relieved due to the controversies surrounding his actions and insurance policies within the training sector, Saturday PUNCH gathered.
Among the many controversies within the sector is the implementation of the 18-year minimal age coverage for college admissions, which led to public outcry.
A non-government organisation, Training for Accelerated Improvement, listed Mamman’s sins to incorporate misinformation, resulting in diplomatic battle between Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo, ensuing within the suspension of diploma programmes from universities in these international locations, amongst different points.
Matawalle’s escape
Sources defined that President Tinubu selected to retain sure ministers regardless of public dissatisfaction with their efficiency on account of issues round his potential second-term ambition and the political roles the ministers may play.
Some ministers reported to have underperformed embrace the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Marine and Blue Financial system, Gboyega Oyetola; Minister of Science and Expertise, Uche Nnaji; and Minister of Water Sources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, amongst others.
Matawalle has been repeatedly accused of sponsoring banditry in Zamfara State, an allegation he has at all times denied. Onanuga additionally said that the allegations towards him had been unproven.
An APC chieftain in Abuja disclosed that the president in the end narrowed down the listing of ministers to be sacked to keep away from ‘political stress.’
“Initially, greater than 5 ministers had been thought of for dismissal, however the president evaluated those that may very well be useful to him politically. The president is sensible and wouldn’t create challenges for himself,” the chieftain remarked.
“Did you see the president sacking any former governors presently serving as ministers? He can’t try this as a result of he is aware of they are going to be helpful for him in 2027. Amongst them, solely David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has really carried out,” the supply added.
On why Oyetola was retained, he mentioned, “Blood is thicker than water. He’s the president’s cousin; it will be unreasonable to count on his dismissal.”
The supply additionally identified that the appointment of Bianka Ojukwu was a strategic political transfer to weaken opposition within the South-East zone since Ojukwu was influential within the All Progressive Grand Alliance, a celebration with big followership within the area.
Matawalle being shielded, Zamfara gov alleges
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State alleged that, Matawalle, was being shielded by the Federal Authorities from accusations linking him to banditry.
By way of his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, in an announcement, Lawal accused Matawalle’s Federal Authorities connections of defending him from scrutiny.
Throughout an interview with Come up Information, Onanuga said that President Tinubu retained Matawalle as a result of an investigation by the Workplace of the Nationwide Safety Adviser deemed the allegations of banditry connections to be “mere fabrication” and politically motivated.
Nevertheless, Lawal’s spokesman disputed Onanuga’s claims, insisting that the accusations weren’t politically motivated, as public security was at stake.
“When accusations of this nature come up, particularly involving critical claims of bandit associations, the honourable factor can be for the officeholder to step apart. Efficient investigations can’t occur whereas the person stays in workplace, given their potential affect,” Idris famous.
He additional said that current arrests of infamous bandits had prompted the governor to formally report the minister.
“Now we have arrested bandits who, throughout interrogations, offered vital info. A current arrest led His Excellency to talk out after the detained particular person was reportedly despatched to Abuja for investigation however then launched again to the forest.
“We even requested the NSA to query Matawalle about sure people and the occasions over the past Ramadan celebration in Tsafe Native Authorities, the place Hilux autos carrying safety personnel reportedly distributed meals to bandits,” he added.
Idris alleged that Matawalle’s connections inside the Federal Authorities had shielded him from accountability.
“Now we have info, information, and names. So far as we all know, no thorough investigation has been performed. They’re merely defending him as a result of he’s a ‘Federal Authorities boy,’” he added.
Governor Lawal additionally criticised Matawalle’s current go to to Sokoto State in army uniform, claiming it was a show meant to avert his removing.
He added, “He did that as a result of the cupboard reshuffle was imminent.
“There was no sincerity in his actions. Ask him why he hasn’t returned to Zamfara. If he says the governor would forestall him, it’s a lie. Following the Court docket of Enchantment’s ruling on Zamfara’s election, he instantly visited the state, however he hasn’t returned for the reason that Supreme Court docket’s judgment.”
Makes an attempt to succeed in Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Matawalle’s media aide, for feedback had been unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
