Fashola, Segun Oni, Amaechi, Ezekwesili,Danbazzau May Make Buhari’s Cabinet.

•Obasanjo, Danjuma, Tinubu, Atiku, Saraki
nominate candidates •President may submit list
to NASS next week
Immediate past governors of Lagos and Rivers states,

Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi
respectively; a former governor of Ekiti State, Engineer
Segun Oni and Education minister in the Obasanjo
government, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, may be among the
ministerial nominees being considered by President
Muhammadu Buhari, The Nation has gathered.
Also believed to be on the list expected to be forwarded
to the Senate next week are a former Chief of Army
Staff, Lt-Gen. Abdurahman Danbazzau; Prof. Pat
Utomi of the Pan Africa University, Lagos and Chief
Economic Adviser to the late President Umaru
Yar’Adua, Dr.Tanimu Yakubu Kirfi.
One of ex-Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi and ex-Osun
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola may also be picked.
Presidency sources said last night that while Buhari is
keen on having a lean cabinet, the 1999 Constitution is
an impediment as it stipulates that every state of the
federation must be represented in the Federal Executive
Council.
Buhari and his think-tank are said to have realised that
the size of the incoming cabinet cannot be less than 36.
Although the President is keeping the list to his chest,
it was learnt that he is disposed to accepting nomination
of capable,tested and what one source called “ethical”
candidates from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-
Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, APC
national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President
Atiku Abubakar, and the newly-elected Senate President,
Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Ex-Minister Bolaji Abdullahi and former National
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Alhaji Kawu Baraje are likely to slug it out for the
Kwara State slot.
Buhari is also said to favour consulting Tinubu on
some slots, regardless of pressure from some elements
in the Presidency.
A source said: “The President has been consulting
widely on the list of his ministers. All things being
equal, some candidates from ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo, ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y.
Danjuma, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President
Atiku Abubakar, and the newly-elected Senate President,
Dr. Bukola Saraki may make the list.
“Some of these heavyweights have submitted advisory
names but it is left for the President to reject or accept
them.
“Governors will have less input into the cabinet. The
President is actually fine-tuning the list of ministers
which he will soon send to the National Assembly. We
are hopeful that in the next one week or two, the
legislature may get the list.
“As I am talking to you, the President is keeping the
list to his chest. I am aware that some ex-governors
may make the team on merit.”
On the provisions of Section 147(1-3),one source said:
“It is difficult for the President to manage a cabinet
that is less than 36 because of the constitutional
provision.
“The President may however reduce the perks of office of
Ministers and make the posts less lucrative except for
genuine ones who want to serve the nation. So in the
light of 147(1-3), the President is handicapped and he
has to run the government with at least 36 ministers
unless the constitution is amended.”
The section reads: “There shall be such offices of
Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be
established by the President.
“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the
Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of
any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be
made by the President.
“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section
by the President shall be in conformity with the
provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:
“Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions
aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one
Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of
such state.”
When contacted, one of the strategists of the new
administration said: “The President is still keeping the
list of ministers to his chest; he has not disclosed any
list.”