Revealed: How President Buhari Chose His Nominees

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 21 would-be

ministers whose names he gave the Senate on

Wednesday were unaware of their

nominations, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The President neither met nor hinted any of the

nominees of their appointments, it was learnt.

After shortlisting those he needed, according to

a source, Buhari directed security agencies to

conduct discreet investigations into their

records. Those closer to him were not exempted,

the source said.

The Presidency yesterday directed all the

nominees to submit their curriculum vitae.

In 14 states yesterday, there was anxiety

because no nominees were named.

Some of the states are Ondo, Kogi, Abia, Enugu

and Imo.

A source, who spoke with our correspondent,

said: “Most of the nominees announced on

Wednesday were caught unawares because

Buhari never sat any of them down or told

them that they would be among his ministers.

“Even though some of them had been coming to

the Presidential Villa, he did not confide in

them.

“I can tell you that the President did not give

assurance to ex-Governors Rotimi Amaechi,

Kayode Fayemi, and Babatunde Fashola. Even as

close as Lt.-Gen. Dambazzau and Sen. Hadi Sirika

are to the President, they did not know that they

would be in the cabinet. The President adopted

suspense all through. That is his style.

The source spoke of how some of the nominees

nursed the ambition of being ministers but got

frustrated after they could not read the

President’s mind.

“The President only directed security agencies

to conduct discreet security checks on them for

about one or two months.

“The security checks were jealously guarded to

prevent leakage. This was the nature of the

appointment.

“The President adopted intelligence approach in

picking his team. A few others who were

nominated by some highly-placed Nigerians,

political leaders and governors could not scale

through the discreet checks.”

It was gathered that most of the nominees were

only contacted yesterday morning to submit

their curricular vitae at the Presidential Villa.

Another source added: “You can see the

transparency of the process adopted by the

President. It was on Thursday morning that the

Presidency started sending messages to most of

the nominees to send their CVs.

“Some of them sent their CVs through e-mail

and others sent emissaries to Abuja to submit

their credentials ahead of compilation for the

Senate’s consideration from next week.

“The President was sure of the pedigree of his

cabinet members before asking them to bring

their CVs.”

It was gathered that a former Head of State

wanted a particular candidate but his request

was politely turned down by the President on

account of age.

Buhari asked the ex-leader to bring in a

“younger person”.

Five factors determined the appointment of

ministers by the President.

These are: strict adherence to principle of non-

interference in choosing his cabinet, integrity

or pedigree; selfless service; old acquaintances

and less exposure to political influence.

A highly-placed source in the Presidency said:

“Buhari was his own man in choosing his

cabinet, although he took certain factors into

consideration. Those who came to advise him

assisted in providing direction or guiding his

mind. At a point, the APC leadership could not

give exact situation of things.

“He has done away with appointments based on

favouritism, godafthers and egoism.

“Apart from merit, Buhari gave ministerial slots

to those who have the ability, those who can

deliver and those he has trusted over the years,

including those who worked with him in the

former Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and those in

the trenches with him in the defunct All Nigeria

Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for

Progressive Change (CPC). He has rewarded

selflessness, perseverance and loyalty.”

There was anxiety yesterday in 14 states whose

ministerial nominees have not been

announced.

‘’There had been enquiries from the states.

Political leaders from the states are mounting

pressure on top officials of the Presidency to

know their stand,’’ a source said.

Source: TheNation