Published By Demilade Aderibigbe
Nine ministers who are nursing political ambition to contest for the post of President or any other political office in the forthcoming 2023 general elections are expected to resign between now and Monday May 16, 2022.
Affected by the presidential order which was handed down by the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed are the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Niger Delta Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, and Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and innovation.
Others are; Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of Education (State), Abubakar Malami , Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Timipre Sylva Minister of Petroleum (State), Uche Ogah, Minister of Mines and Steel (state), and Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs.
The decision to relief the ministers of their responsibilities was reached at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, moments after the resignation letter of Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba was read on the floor of the FEC by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nwajiuba was said to have resigned his appointment from cabinet two weeks ago, but his letter was only read on the floor of the cabinet today.
Meanwhile the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was exempted from the President’s order.
Mr Mohammed while briefing State House Correspondents said Osinbajo was exempted because he is an elected political office holder and not a political appointee.
He also hinted that the President might give further directive regarding other classes of political appointees, adding that today’s directive concerns only ministers and other cabinet officers who have expressed interest in vying for political offices in the 2023 elections.
