President Goodluck Jonathan is currently under pressure
from his close aides and associates to sack some
ministers and bring on board those believed to have
political value in their states.
Their argument is that in the event that the President
decides to seek re-election in 2015, many of the current
ministers do not have the required political clout to
deliver their states.
A top presidency source told one of our correspondents
on Tuesday that Jonathan's close aides had advised him
many times on the need to constitute what they
described as "election cabinet."
Such a cabinet, according to him, will comprise mostly
people who will be proud to defend the President
whenever he is being criticised.
He said a situation where ministers would sit on the
fence when the President and the government were
being criticised did not depict a cabinet that Jonathan
should have during elections.
The source added that the pressure on the President
became more intense with the open confrontation five
northern state governors have had with Jonathan.
He said, "We have told the President on several
occasions that he needs to constitute what we call an
election cabinet. He cannot go into election with this
cabinet as currently constituted. We have told him this
and proved it to him several times.
"How can you call yourself a minister and you will hear
people talking ill of your principal and attacking the
government you are serving and you will decide to be
indifferent? There are some current ministers that will
not even sit on the fence when the President is being
criticised, they will join the critics.
"We have told Mr. President that this must not continue.
If you think you cannot stick out your neck for a
government that has given you an opportunity, the
honourable thing to do is to resign; failure of which you
can be shown the way out."
The source said although the President had been
reluctant to take heed of the advice, he might soon be
left with no other option since he could not continue to
inconvenience himself on the altar of friendship.
He said since vacancies in the Federal Executive Council
had increased with the sacking of Inuwa Abdulkadir as
the minister of Youth Development, the President might
have no choice but to yield to the pressure.
Abdulkadir's exit brought the number of vacant
ministerial positions to three.
Former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru, was sacked
in June last year while former Minister of State, Health,
Dr. Muhammed Pate, resigned on July 24.
A Presidency source said Jonathan might dissolve his
cabinet in October to create opportunities for people
with competence to take over strategic ministries.
Although it was stated that some of the ministers might
be retained, several others had been shortlisted for
sacking.
It was gathered that several ministers loyal to political
enemies of the President would certainly lose their jobs.
It was further learnt that some ministers, who have
governorship ambitions, would be relieved of their
appointments to give them the opportunity to face their
political careers.
The Presidency source stated, "The President would
make far-reaching changes in his cabinet before or on
October 1, 2013. He is even thinking of dissolving the
whole cabinet.
"I can assure you that several of the ministers are
going. There are some who would resign to pursue their
political ambitions, while there are others who are
disloyal and those who have performed below
expectations.
'The President cannot afford to keep people who can
derail his programme as we move towards next year."
When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said he was not
aware of such pressure on the President.
"Honestly, I don't know. I am not aware of such
pressure," he said.


Source: mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/2015-jonathan-under-pressure-to-constitute-election-cabinet/