In any administration there are people who are very close to the president. They set the pace and dictate the tune of what will happen in the country together with the president. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is not an exception to this.
President Buhari has ended five months of waiting since his administration began by inaugurating his cabinet.
Buhari has reduced the number of ministries from 36 to 24, making some appointees only junior ministers. The new cabinet includes seven women and is comprised of appointees from each of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The administration of President Buhari is expected to be shaped by these Nigerians.
1. Abdulrahman Dambazau
Buhari congratulates Dambazau
Dambazau is a retired army general and is said to be a close friend of President Buhari. He was discharged as chief of army staff and then retired as a lieutenant general in 2010 by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
He was predicted to become national security adviser as he played a key role in emergence of Buhari as president.
Dambazau was the head of the security committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign organisation, and was always close to Buhari in the days leading to the May 29 swearing-in as well as after the president was sworn-in.
As a military general and having occupied one of the highest levels in the army, Dambazau understands politics at the highest level of administration.
As a Minster of Interior, he will bring his experience as a former COAS to stand to reposition the ministry and ensure that the para-military agencies under the ministry carry out their mandate effectively.
2. Kayode Fayemi
President Buhari with Fayemi at the 70th UNGA
