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
Fayemi was also close to Buhari during the presidential campaign as he was the head of the policy, research and strategy directorate of the campaign.
After the swearing-in of APC administration on May 29 the immediate past governor of the Ekiti state was always in the protocol list of President Buhari.
As Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Fayemi has a wide spectrum and experience as an ex-governor to improve the solid mineral sector to a money spinning and employment generation venture as desired by Buhari.
Meanwhile, despite his experience analysts consider that Fayemi’s primary competence is education and research areas which he practiced before venturing into politics.
3. Babatunde Fashola
Fashola during the ministerial screening
While it was speculated that the immediate past governor of the Lagos state would hold the Ministry of Justice, he was allocated to Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, a main sector in the Buhari led administration.
President Buhari according to experts could have been impressed by Fashola’s scorecard in Lagos.
Analysts suggest that the former Lagos governor is a multi-tasking, qualified personality and a goal getter. He was chief of staff to his so-called god-father Bola Tinubu, and part of the eight years transformation of Lagos state.
Some Nigerians have already called him a “super minister” because of the huge task of the ministry, which comes with massive influence in the incumbent government.
The successes of Fashola recorded in areas of road construction, Independent Power Project and Housing in Lagos is what the president wants him to duplicate at the federal level.
Meanwhile, some experts have suggested that Fashola may not be able to implement such achievements at the federal level because of the huge work involved in the sector. They also believe that the fact that he succeeded at the state, which is smaller, does not mean that he could do same at the federal level.
4. Audu Ogbe
Audu Ogbeh (Benue state) undergoing screening
The former Minister of Communication, and later Minister of Steel Development under Shehu Shagari administration was overthrown in the coup that brought Buhari to power in 1983.
Ogbe, who is from Benue state was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, a sector that is essential to Buhari’s administration aim to ensure food sufficiency, create jobs and empower youth through agriculture.
Analysts have said that he has the experience, as he has been a farmer since his retirement. He is the current chairman and managing director of Efugo Farm Markudi.
Meanwhile, experts suggest that it takes more than owning a farm to lead the Ministry of Agriculture without experience in agricultural economy.
5. Kemi Adeosun
Kemi Adeosun
Kemi Adeosun is not as experienced as Okonjo Iweala, her predecessor.
However, she has worked with Price Waterhouse coppers and Chapelhill Denham before she was nominated commissioner for information in Ogun state.
Some experts said that her experience of 21 years put her in the right saddle to set up promising local economic policies in tune with global economics order like her immediate predecessor.
But some analysts have said that the fact that she has a university degree in applied economics and worked as an investment banker and a commissioner is not enough to handle a complex economy like that of Nigeria.
6. Rotimi Amaechi
Buhari and Amaechi during the ministerial inauguration
The embattled ex-governor of the Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi seems to be the most controversial figure in Buhari’s government.
He played a pivotal role in the president’s campaign by serving as Buhari’s campaign director. Amaechi faced stiff opposition during the ministerial screening because of his role during the last poll.
His experience as former Speaker of the House of Assembly and former governor is considered to put him in good stead to pilot the affairs of the Ministry of Transport as a Minister; and deliver the needed change the sector needs.
Some have raised doubts that Amaechi would be able to deliver on the grounds that he is more of a politician than a minister, others have suggested that his poor relationship with members of the opposition could hamper his ministerial duties.
7. Abubakar Malami
Abubakar Malami (SAN) at the Senate for Ministerial Screening . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
Malami, who is only 40, is the youngest minister in Buhari’s cabinet.
He is the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General. He is from Kebbi state, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Abubakar has a remarkable pedigree in the political arena. As politician Malami rose to become the National Legal Adviser of Congress for Progressive Change and was said to have handled all Buhari’s legal matters.
While he is qualified as a SAN to head the Ministry of Justice, some legal analysts believe that he is too young to cope with the pressures and technicalities of the two offices.
