MORE ministers are likely to leave the cabinet
soon, The Nation learnt at the weekend.
It is all part of the fallout of the defection of five
governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC),
according to sources.
Ministers are also under pressure to either align
with the President’s 2015 aspiration or be shown
the way out.
But some ministers, who are professionals, are
not keen on being drawn into politics, especially
in their states where the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) is factionalised.
Of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 42-man
cabinet, 11 left due to either sack or voluntary
resignation.
It was, however, learnt that some ministers
associated with PDP governors or leaders, who
have defected to the APC, might be relieved of
their appointments unless they make their
position known.
The Presidency is yet to recover from the shock of
last Tuesday’s merger of the New PDP with the
APC, according to sources.
According to sources, the President met with his
strategists, key PDP leaders and Senate President
David Mark, on Wednesday and Thursday on how
to deal with the challenge posed by the APC.
Although some harsh steps were suggested, it
was learnt that Mark insisted on the rule of law to
manage the situation.
A source said Mark claimed that it would be
difficult for him to declare the seats of senators
who have joined APC vacant since they are yet to
form the Senate leadership of their action.
Having reached a brick wall, it was gathered, the
President’s strategists came up with four options
to tackle the APC challenge.
The options are:
•engaging those who defected in legal battles to
declare their seats vacant;
•sponsoring political dissidents in their states;
•creating legal and political hurdles for anyone
with a case or their relations; and
•ridding the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the
defectors’ loyalists.
It was learnt that the cleansing of FEC of those
loyal to APC leaders is one of the immediate
options on the card.
A top source said: “The battle line has been
drawn. Ministers are now left with the option of
either identifying with PDP and the President’s
cause or seeking refuge elsewhere.
“Some ministers and board members may be
dropped because those who nominated them have
defected to the APC. The alternative is for such
people to openly denounce their godfathers or be
shown the way out.
“Although some of the ministers have performed
but Jonathan’s strategists believe they should be
asked to go. These strategists do not see
defection to APC as a matter of political game;
they believe in do-or-die politics.
“The ball is in Jonathan’s court to determine
whether he will take to the advice or not.”
The President had earlier sacked some ministers,
allegedly linked to the G-7 governors when the
New PDP was formed.
They were part of the nine ministers dropped from
the cabinet.
Sacked were Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs),
Hadiza Mailaifa (Environment), Shamsudeen
Usman (National Planning), Ama Pepple (Lands,
Housing and Urban Development), Rukayyatu
Rufai’ (Education) and Ita Ewa (Science and
Technology).
The others were Minister of State for Defence
Olusola Obada; Minister of State for Power Zainab
Kuchi and Minister of State for Agriculture Bukar
Tijani.
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/fear-apc-jonathan-set-drop-ministers/