By Akinwale Kasali
President Muhammadu Buhari did not need to make public why he sacked his two Cabinet members. When a Cabinet member is sacked, it is taken for granted that he/she has either fallen out of favour, is underperforming, or has misrepresented the administration.
But in the case of the two Ministers unceremoniously sacked on Wednesday, Buhari, short of calling them incompetent, dismissed both Mamman Saleh former Minister for Power and Mohammed Nanono former Agriculture Minister, as weak and unproductive.
No testimonial could have been more damning.
The President through his Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adeshina said that the sacked Ministers were considered weak in their contributions and their sack was a bid to reinvigorate his Cabinet and consolidate legacy achievements.
“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps,” he added.
The President revealed that the Ministers were sacked after an independent and critical self-review of their performance.
Though the President did not reveal the rating of the sacked Ministers’ performance, but Nigerians never felt the impact of the Ministers. From when they were appointed, nothing improved in the centres they manned. Their names remained anonymous in most areas.
The sacked Ministers were replaced by Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing was asked to assume office as the Minister of Power.
Speaking further on the decision to sack the duo, the President said the sacking of the ministers was to close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.
Read the Statement:
“On Wednesday 21st August 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in Office and to emphasize the nine priority areas of Government for the second term.
“Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.
“I must commend this Cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the Government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.
“As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this Cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.”
The President explained that the sacked ministers had earlier been informed, adding that vacant positions would be filled in accordance with the constitution.
“In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.
“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in Cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation.
“Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours,” he said
New nominations are expect
