Six ministers to quit Jonathan’s cabinet

At least, six ministers may quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet in October as preparations for the 2015 general elections peak.

The affected ministers are expected to resign their appointments in order to pursue their governorship ambitions on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

As of press time, the ministers who have governorship ambitions in their respective states include Senator Bala Muhammed (Federal Capital Territory), Mr. Labaran Maku (Information), Chief Emeka Wogu (Labour), Mr. Nyesom Wike (State, Education), Dr. Samuel Ortom (State, Trade, Industry and Investment) and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (State, Defence).

While Muhammed seeks to take over from Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; Maku intends to replace Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa State and therefore win the state currently being ruled by the All Progressives Congress to the PDP while Wogu nurses the ambition of succeeding Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State.

Wike is interested in taking over Rivers State from Governor Rotimi Amaechi; Ortom has his eyes on the seat to be vacated by Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State while Obanikoro also plans to take over Lagos State from Governor Babatunde Fashola and the APC.

The President’s Special Adviser on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye, is also nursing the ambition of becoming the Delta State Governor after Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Their imminent resignation is expected to lead to a major shakeup in the Federal Executive Council.

A Presidency source said the ministers’ exit would lead to the constitution of “election cabinet” by the President.

“Their resignation will come very soon. You know the President will have to fill the vacancies that will be created before the general elections in February 2015. You also know that the Senate must approve nominees.

“It is therefore important that the list be forwarded to the senators before everybody will be engrossed in election matters in their various constituencies,” the source said.