Four former governors, opposition party leaders, technocrats make Tinubu ministers list

Four former governors, opposition party leaders, technocrats make Tinubu ministers list

Four former state governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and Senator Ben Ayade of Cross River are on the list of ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The list is expected to be officially unveiled today (Thursday) by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Also nominated for cabinet positions are eminent medical scholar, Ali Pate; a legal luminary Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); an economist, Olawale Edun; former CBN deputy governor, Adebayo Adelabu; All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader, Mrs. Betta Edu; and an eminent journalist, Dele Alake, who is currently the Special Adviser on Media, Strategy and Special Duties.

The Nation quoted a Senate source as saying the President forwarded the list to the Senate President some hours ago in line with the constitutional provision that the list should get to the National Assembly within 60 days after the presidential inauguration.

The deadline expires this weekend.

The list is said to be a mixture of politicians and technocrats.

The source said the list reflected the national character and outlook of the President and the ruling party.

Another source said some leaders of the opposition parties also made the list.

President Tinubu had hinted about setting up a government of inclusion and competence after assuming the reins.

He said experienced ministers would drive his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda in the national interest.

It was gathered that the list was drawn following wider consultations with members of the ruling APC National Caucus, the Progressive Governors’ Forum, other top party leaders and relevant stakeholders.

Brief profiles of some nominees

Pate, a Harvard professor of medicine, is a former Minister of State (Health) in the defunct Jonathan Administration. A source said he is likely to hold the Health portfolio.

Wike, lawyer, former Minister of State for Education, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, was the leader of the aggrieved G-5, which opposed the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

El-Rufai, a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), headed the APC Panel on Restructuring. According to the source, he may be assigned to the Power Ministry.

Fagbemi, who hails from Ijagbo, Kwara State, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Edun, one-time Lagos Finance Commissioner, is currently Special Adviser to the President on Monetary Policy.

Ayade, a professor of microbiology, has served as Senator before he became governor.