Main points have emerged at the causes in the back of President Bola Tinubu’s resolution to sack 5 ministers and let go the Minister of Order for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in his cupboard, regardless of allegations of banditry sponsorship levelled towards him.
The ministers who had been got rid of from place of job come with Mrs Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Girls Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN (Schooling), Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Early life Building), and Abdullahi Gwarzo (Minister of Order for Housing and City Building).
In step with the President’s Particular Assistant on Knowledge and Technique, Bayo Onanuga, the verdict to push aside the ministers was once influenced via people belief and empirical information on their efficiency.
Onanuga defined that the reshuffle got here as a reaction to the vital perspectives held via Nigerians in regards to the ministers’ effectiveness in place of job.
Why ministers had been sacked
Then again, resources inside the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress hinted that the verdict was once additionally in keeping with the “lack of political value” of the affected ministers of their respective states.
In step with an APC chieftain on the birthday party’s headquarters in Abuja, a key attention was once whether or not the removing of any of the ministers would incite political unrest of their states.
“They evaluated if their sack would lead to a crisis for the president in their regions, and the feedback was that it would not,” he stated.
The supply additional famous that generation some ministers had been sacked because of underperformance, others had been pushed aside in keeping with considerations over their habits and restricted political relevance.
Bio-Ibrahim as placeholder
Saturday PUNCH was once reliably knowledgeable via manage officers on the Ministry of Early life Building that the sacked minister, Bio-Ibrahim, have been a ‘placeholder’ for Ayodele Olawande, a former Minister of Order for the ministry.
In step with the officers, Olawande, who has been appointed because the substantive minister, was once the favorite candidate of Seyi Tinubu, the son of the president.
The officers stated the sacked minister was once no longer empowered politically, including that the device was once rigged towards her.
Some of the resources operating within the Schooling and Early life Building section advised our correspondent that Bio-Ibrahim was once a sufferer of political manipulations.
The legitimate stated, “The lady is a simply sufferer of political manipulations. She didn’t revel in being a minister for the reason that device was once no longer in her favour.
“The previous Minister of Order, Ayodele Ayowande, have been the selection of the presidency from time one. President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, sought after Ayowande to be the substantive minister from the beginning, however he didn’t have his approach. That they had since been operating to snatch the lady out.
“One example is that in August this year, the woman wanted to hold a programme in Ondo State to dissuade the youth from joining the #EndBadGovernance protest, but she was frustrated out of it. The people who didn’t want the President to know she was active mobilised against her and she couldn’t hold the programme again. We knew she’d be relieved of her duties eventually because she didn’t have support from the political class.”
Ohanenye’s drama
Sacked Minister of Girls Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, was once relieved of her place on account of her ‘constant drama’ which the presidency regarded as embarrassing, in keeping with impeccable resources who told to Saturday PUNCH.
The resources stated Ohanenye additionally stepped on many ft in her ‘aggressive moves’ to restructure the ministry.
In step with the resources, the primary turnoff recorded towards Ohanenye was once her warning to sue the United International locations for allegedly mismanaging price range intended for Nigeria.
Ohanenye had in October 2023 accused the UN of acquiring price range in the name of the rustic with out remitting them.
The previous APC feminine presidential aspirant additionally disrupted two occasions in Abuja for the reason that organisers didn’t search the permission of her ministry to take action.
“The woman is a controversial person. She stepped on toes with her conduct and the President couldn’t curtail her excesses any longer. She is too dramatic as a minister. We knew she couldn’t go far”, stated a supply on the APC secretariat.
Azoka-Anite’s ‘external’ place of job
The previous Minister of Trade, Industry and Funding, Doris Azoka-Anite, was once accused of disconnecting herself from the companies and segments below her ministry.
Officers of the ministry, who told to Saturday PUNCH on status of anonymity, stated she moved out of the ministry and established a fresh place of job in Abuja, making it tricky for group of workers to hold out their tasks.
Azoka-Anite was once moved to the Ministry of Finance as a climate minister.
A manage legitimate of the ministry stated, “The ministry was once too fat for her to maintain. We most often have two ministers; we didn’t know why the President appointed simplest her to top the ministry.
“Sadly, she was once crushed as a result of she sought after to perform rejected, no longer keen to paintings with segments and companies below the ministry.
“She pissed off industrialists on account of her self-styled administrative device. Each and every past we would have liked to signal a document, we might let go the ministry to travel and meet her on the fresh private place of job she created in Abuja, and lots of the information we submitted would no longer be returned to us. She has her staff working the ministry for her.
“I believe industrialists who were frustrated by her style reported her to the President, which led to her demotion.”
Ade-John and Lagos energy bloc
Assets within the tourism trade advised Saturday PUNCH that the Lagos energy bloc would possibly have harassed President Tinubu into shedding Ade-John because the Minister of Tourism as a result of she was once no longer a political candidate.
In step with the resources, Ade-John was once denied get admission to to the Lagos Order Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on 3 other events.
The resources famous that the lady, although dwelling in Lagos, didn’t have any political godfather, which uncovered her to ultimatum from politicians in Lagos and a few people who sought after to deal the ministry.
“She could also be from Lagos via delivery, however she isn’t a birthday party individual. This is her crime. She was once relieved on account of drive from the Lagos energy bloc.
“The woman performed excellently well. Nigeria has offended that lady because she gave in her best and we have the result.”
The Director Normal of the Ekiti Order Bureau of Tourism, Wale Ojo-Lanre, in an editorial titled, ‘Lola Ade-John: Good bye to jati jati?’, described her removing as an injustice.
“In spite of her visionary plans and tireless paintings, the unexpected termination of her appointment looks like a deep injustice – a vintage case of any individual being stripped in their doable simply as they’re achieving for the celebrities.
“It’s essential to recognise that while she did not achieve everything she set out to do, what she accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable. She laid the groundwork for future leaders to build upon, and her legacy will not be forgotten”, he wrote.
Mamman’s sacking
The sacked Minister of Schooling, Prof Tahir Mamman, would possibly were relieved on account of the controversies environment his movements and insurance policies within the training sector, Saturday PUNCH collected.
A number of the controversies within the sector is the implementation of the 18-year minimal pace coverage for college admissions, which ended in people outcry.
A non-government organisation, Schooling for Sped up Building, indexed Mamman’s sins to incorporate incorrect information, chief to diplomatic struggle between Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo, to effect the postponed of level programmes from universities in those international locations, among alternative problems.
Matawalle’s depart
Assets defined that President Tinubu selected to accumulation positive ministers regardless of people dissatisfaction with their efficiency because of concerns round his doable second-term ambition and the political roles the ministers would possibly play games.
Some ministers reported to have similarly underperformed integrated the Minister of Order for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, Gboyega Oyetola; Minister of Science and Era, Uche Nnaji; and Minister of H2O Sources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, amongst others.
Matawalle has been many times accused of sponsoring banditry in Zamfara Order, an allegation he has at all times denied. Onanuga additionally said that the allegations towards him had been unproven.
An APC chieftain in Abuja disclosed that the president in the long run narrowed ill the record of ministers to be sacked to keep away from ‘political stress.’
“Initially, more than five ministers were considered for dismissal, but the president evaluated those who could be beneficial to him politically. The president is wise and would not create challenges for himself,” the chieftain remarked.
“Do you see the president sacking any former governors currently serving as ministers? He can’t do that because he knows they will be useful for him in 2027. Among them, only David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has truly performed,” the supply added.
On why Oyetola was once retained, he stated, “Blood is thicker than water. He is the president’s cousin; it would be unreasonable to expect his dismissal.”
The supply additionally identified the appointment of Bianka Ojukwu as a strategic political travel to weaken opposition within the South-East zone since Ojukwu held a top stake within the All Enthusiastic Brilliant Alliance, a birthday party with top followership within the pocket.
Matawalle being shielded, Zamfara gov alleges
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara Order alleged that the Minister of Order for Defence, Matawalle, was once being shielded via the Federal Govt from accusations linking him to banditry.
Thru his Prominent Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, in a remark, Lawal accused Matawalle’s Federal Govt connections of shielding him from scrutiny.
All the way through an interview with Get up Information, Onanuga defined that President Tinubu retained Matawalle as a result of an investigation via the Place of work of the Nationwide Safety Assistant deemed the allegations of banditry connections as “mere fabrication” and politically progressive.
Then again, Lawal’s spokesman disputed Onanuga’s claims, insisting the accusations weren’t politically progressive, as people safety was once at stake.
“When accusations of this nature arise, especially involving serious claims of bandit associations, the honourable thing would be for the officeholder to step aside. Effective investigations cannot happen while the individual remains in office, given their potential influence,” Idris famous.
He additional said that fresh arrests of infamous bandits had brought about the governor to officially document the minister.
“We’ve got arrested bandits who, throughout interrogations, equipped vital data. A up to date arrest led His Excellency to talk out upcoming the detained particular person was once reportedly despatched to Abuja for investigation however next discharged again to the woodland.
“We even asked the NSA to question Matawalle about certain individuals and the events during the last Ramadan celebration in Tsafe Local Government, where Hilux vehicles carrying security personnel reportedly distributed food to bandits,” he added.
Idris alleged that Matawalle’s connections inside the Federal Govt have shielded him from responsibility.
“We have facts, records, and names. As far as we know, no thorough investigation has been conducted. They are simply protecting him because he’s a ‘Federal Government boy,’” he added.
Governor Lawal additionally criticised Matawalle’s fresh discuss with to Sokoto Order in army uniform, claiming it was once a show supposed to avert his removing.
He added, “He did that for the reason that cupboard reshuffle was once impending.
“There was no sincerity in his actions. Ask him why he hasn’t returned to Zamfara. If he says the governor would prevent him, it’s a lie. Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling on Zamfara’s election, he immediately visited the state, but he hasn’t returned since the Supreme Court’s judgment.”
Makes an attempt to succeed in Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Matawalle’s media aide, for feedback had been unsuccessful as yells and messages went unanswered.
“The woman is a controversial person. She stepped on toes with her conduct and the President couldn’t curtail her excesses any longer. She was too dramatic as a minister. We knew she couldn’t go far”, stated a supply on the APC secretariat.
Uzoka-Anite’s ‘external’ place of job
The previous Minister of Trade, Industry and Funding, Doris Uzoka-Anite, was once accused of disconnecting herself from the companies and segments below her ministry.
Officers of the ministry, who told to Saturday PUNCH on status of anonymity, stated she moved out of the ministry and established a fresh place of job in Abuja, making it tricky for group of workers to hold out their tasks.
Uzoka-Anite was once moved to the Ministry of Finance as a minister of climate.
A manage legitimate of the ministry stated, “The ministry was once too fat for her to maintain. We most often have two ministers; we didn’t know why the President appointed simplest her to top the ministry.
“Sadly, she was once crushed as a result of she sought after to perform rejected, and was once no longer keen to paintings with segments and companies below the ministry.
“She pissed off industrialists on account of her self-styled administrative device. Each and every past we would have liked to signal a document, we might let go the ministry to travel and meet her on the fresh private place of job she created in Abuja, and lots of the information we submitted would no longer be returned to us. She had her staff working the ministry for her.
“I believe industrialists who were frustrated by her style reported her to the President, which led to her demotion.”
Ade-John and Lagos energy bloc
Assets within the tourism trade advised Saturday PUNCH that the Lagos energy bloc would possibly have harassed President Tinubu into shedding Ade-John because the Minister of Tourism as a result of she was once no longer a political candidate.
In step with the resources, Ade-John was once denied get admission to to the Lagos Order Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on 3 other events.
The resources famous that the lady, although dwelling in Lagos, didn’t have any political godfather, which uncovered her to ultimatum from politicians in Lagos and a few people who sought after to deal the ministry.
“She could also be from Lagos via delivery, however she isn’t a birthday party individual. This is her crime. She was once relieved on account of drive from the Lagos energy bloc.
“The woman performed excellently well. Nigeria has offended that lady because she gave in her best and we have the result.”
The Director Normal of the Ekiti Order Bureau of Tourism, Wale Ojo-Lanre, in an editorial titled, ‘Lola Ade-John: Good bye to jati jati?’, described her removing as an injustice.
“In spite of her visionary plans and tireless paintings, the unexpected termination of her appointment looks like a deep injustice – a vintage case of any individual being stripped in their doable simply as they’re achieving for the celebrities.
“It’s essential to recognise that while she did not achieve everything she set out to do, what she accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable. She laid the groundwork for future leaders to build upon, and her legacy will not be forgotten,” he wrote.
Mamman’s sacking
The sacked Minister of Schooling, Prof Tahir Mamman, would possibly were relieved on account of the controversies environment his movements and insurance policies within the training sector, Saturday PUNCH collected.
A number of the controversies within the sector is the implementation of the 18-year minimal pace coverage for college admissions, which ended in people outcry.
A non-government organisation, Schooling for Sped up Building, indexed Mamman’s sins to incorporate incorrect information, chief to diplomatic struggle between Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo, to effect the postponed of level programmes from universities in those international locations, amongst alternative problems.
Matawalle’s depart
Assets defined that President Tinubu selected to accumulation positive ministers regardless of people dissatisfaction with their efficiency because of concerns round his doable second-term ambition and the political roles the ministers would possibly play games.
Some ministers reported to have underperformed come with the Minister of Order for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, Gboyega Oyetola; Minister of Science and Era, Uche Nnaji; and Minister of H2O Sources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, amongst others.
Matawalle has been many times accused of sponsoring banditry in Zamfara Order, an allegation he has at all times denied. Onanuga additionally said that the allegations towards him had been unproven.
An APC chieftain in Abuja disclosed that the president in the long run narrowed ill the record of ministers to be sacked to keep away from ‘political stress.’
“Initially, more than five ministers were considered for dismissal, but the president evaluated those who could be beneficial to him politically. The president is wise and would not create challenges for himself,” the chieftain remarked.
“Did you see the president sacking any former governors currently serving as ministers? He can’t do that because he knows they will be useful for him in 2027. Among them, only David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has truly performed,” the supply added.
On why Oyetola was once retained, he stated, “Blood is thicker than water. He is the president’s cousin; it would be unreasonable to expect his dismissal.”
The supply additionally identified that the appointment of Bianka Ojukwu was once a strategic political travel to weaken opposition within the South-East zone since Ojukwu was once influential within the All Enthusiastic Brilliant Alliance, a birthday party with profusion followership within the pocket.
Matawalle being shielded, Zamfara gov alleges
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara Order alleged that, Matawalle, was once being shielded via the Federal Govt from accusations linking him to banditry.
Thru his Prominent Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, in a remark, Lawal accused Matawalle’s Federal Govt connections of shielding him from scrutiny.
All the way through an interview with Get up Information, Onanuga said that President Tinubu retained Matawalle as a result of an investigation via the Place of work of the Nationwide Safety Assistant deemed the allegations of banditry connections to be “mere fabrication” and politically progressive.
Then again, Lawal’s spokesman disputed Onanuga’s claims, insisting that the accusations weren’t politically progressive, as people protection was once at stake.
“When accusations of this nature arise, especially involving serious claims of bandit associations, the honourable thing would be for the officeholder to step aside. Effective investigations cannot happen while the individual remains in office, given their potential influence,” Idris famous.
He additional said that fresh arrests of infamous bandits had brought about the governor to officially document the minister.
“We’ve got arrested bandits who, throughout interrogations, equipped vital data. A up to date arrest led His Excellency to talk out upcoming the detained particular person was once reportedly despatched to Abuja for investigation however next discharged again to the woodland.
“We even asked the NSA to question Matawalle about certain individuals and the events during the last Ramadan celebration in Tsafe Local Government, where Hilux vehicles carrying security personnel reportedly distributed food to bandits,” he added.
Idris alleged that Matawalle’s connections inside the Federal Govt had shielded him from responsibility.
“We have facts, records, and names. As far as we know, no thorough investigation has been conducted. They are simply protecting him because he’s a ‘Federal Government boy,’” he added.
Governor Lawal additionally criticised Matawalle’s fresh discuss with to Sokoto Order in army uniform, claiming it was once a show supposed to avert his removing.
He added, “He did that for the reason that cupboard reshuffle was once impending.
“There was no sincerity in his actions. Ask him why he hasn’t returned to Zamfara. If he says the governor would prevent him, it’s a lie. Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling on Zamfara’s election, he immediately visited the state, but he hasn’t returned since the Supreme Court’s judgment.”
Makes an attempt to succeed in Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Matawalle’s media aide, for feedback had been unsuccessful as yells and messages went unanswered.