Ministers were, yesterday, rattled following an abrupt
cancellation of the regular Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Ministers of Science and Technology, Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa and Minister
of State for Niger Delta, Darius Ishaku among others arrived the Council
Chambers before the 10.00am, but had to go back immediately after they were
informed that the meeting had been cancelled.
cancellation of the regular Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Ministers of Science and Technology, Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa and Minister
of State for Niger Delta, Darius Ishaku among others arrived the Council
Chambers before the 10.00am, but had to go back immediately after they were
informed that the meeting had been cancelled.
They had no inkling that the meeting was not going to hold, as
there was no official statement to that effect.
Journalists who arrived their duty post at the council chambers of the
presidential villa met the venue empty and devoid of the usual flurry of
activity
there was no official statement to that effect.
Journalists who arrived their duty post at the council chambers of the
presidential villa met the venue empty and devoid of the usual flurry of
activity
It became apparent on Tuesday that President Goodluck Jonathan
might have resolved to reshuffle his cabinet when the federal government
assigned former former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
(UNN), Professor Chinedu Nebo the Ministry of Power portfolio as its substantive
Minister and named Kabiru Turaki (SAN) minister of Special Duties, leaving the
ministry of Defence without a substantive minister.
The two new ministers were expected to fill the positions of
Haliru Bello Mohammed who was removed as Minister of Defence on June 22, 2012
and Professor Barth Nnaji who resigned his position as Power Minister on August
28, 2012.
Haliru Bello Mohammed who was removed as Minister of Defence on June 22, 2012
and Professor Barth Nnaji who resigned his position as Power Minister on August
28, 2012.
Sources at the Presidency, however, told LEADERSHIP that Police
Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Omoniyi Olubolade may re-assigned to the
Ministry of Defence as the substantive minister in the impending cabinet
reshuffle.
Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Omoniyi Olubolade may re-assigned to the
Ministry of Defence as the substantive minister in the impending cabinet
reshuffle.
Although no reason was given for the cancellation of the FEC
meeting, the president had, on Tuesday night, jetted out of the country to
London from where he is expected to go to Paris to confer with the British
Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron and the President of France, Mr. Francois
Hollande on matters of vital interest to Nigeria, Britain and France.
meeting, the president had, on Tuesday night, jetted out of the country to
London from where he is expected to go to Paris to confer with the British
Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron and the President of France, Mr. Francois
Hollande on matters of vital interest to Nigeria, Britain and France.
A statement by presidential spokesman to this effect noted that
the president is also scheduled to attend the launching of the Olusegun
Obasanjo Foundation in London on Friday before returning to the country on
Monday.
the president is also scheduled to attend the launching of the Olusegun
Obasanjo Foundation in London on Friday before returning to the country on
Monday.
But Jonathan’s absence would not have stopped FEC from holding
because, as it had always been the tradition in the past, whenever the
president was out of the country, Vice President Namadi Sambo presided over the
council meeting.
because, as it had always been the tradition in the past, whenever the
president was out of the country, Vice President Namadi Sambo presided over the
council meeting.
Source: Leadership
