Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, about-to-be-sworn-in president
Politicians have started jostling for key positions in would-be government of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he is about to be sworn in as the substantive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2023.
There are at least three appointments – Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief of Staff and presidential spokesperson – that are expected to be made by the new President for smooth operation of government that must have the approval of the National Assembly.
Sources close to Tinubu said there had been a jostle for appointments, including ministerial, under the Tinubu administration since the president-elect emerged after the February 25 presidential polls.
The President-elect, it was learnt from multiple sources close to him, Sunday, had kept allies and close associates, among others, guessing over those that would form his cabinet.
Meanwhile, there were insinuations that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and James Faleke, a federal lawmaker from Lagos, are likely to play some roles in the Tinubu cabinet.
El-Rufai, it has been reported, alongside two other outgoing governors, Aminu Masari and Atiku Bagudu of Katsina and Kebbi States respectively, are in the race for the SGF office.
Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, is also, reports said, is in the jostle for ministerial appointment. He is said to be highly favoured for the External Affairs portfolio.
Traditionally, top members of the ruling party who lost governorship elections in their states are usually compensated with ministerial appointments and this may also play out in the unfolding Tinubu government.
Multiple sources, however, said Gbajabimila was facing huge opposition to the possibility of emerging as Chief of Staff to the President.
There has been no word on who will emerge as a presidential spokesperson but there are high-profile professionals around the president-elect who fit the bill.
Some of them served in the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council and they include Mr. Bayo Onanuga and Mr. Dele Alake.
A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that all the names being peddled for appointments in the Tinubu administration remained in the realm of speculation.
Said the source: “President Tinubu is likely to make his first appointments on Monday or Tuesday because he wants to hit the ground running.
“But all the conjectures about who is in and who is out in the cabinet and other appointments are in the realm of speculations.
”Everyone has continued to speculate but from what I know, the list is with the president-elect.
“He is keeping it close to his chest. All those who go to him, he promises them but he won’t say anything”.
