By Uche Mbah
Mild surprises are being recorded at the ministerial inauguration going on in Abuja, with President Muhammadu Buhari again clinging on to the Petroleum Ministry. There has been speculations this time that he may relinquish the position and hand it over to somebody from the core North. More surprisingly, however, was the appointment of Timipre Silver as the Minister of state for Petroleum.
With this, Silver replaces Ibe Kachukwu, whose tenure became tumultuous at the sunset of his occupancy of that position. It is not clear how Silver and Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National petroleum corporation, NNPC, could hit it off, but Abba Kyari is expected to act as a buffer.
That is not all. Former governor Godswill Akpabio is to head Niger Delta Ministry, while Festus Keyamo is to be a Junior Minister under him. With Ita Enang as the Senior Special Assistant to Buhari on Niger delta, the gloves may soon be off.
This has shattered the expectations of Keyamo who has been vigorously campaigning for the position of Attorney general. That portfolio was incontestably reserved for Abubakar Malami, the Lawyer that Buhari knows.
Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun Governor, has been taken to the Ministry of Interior-allegedly on the recommendation of Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All progressives congress, APC. And Babatunde Fashola lost power, retaining his Works and Housing portfolio.
Chris Ngige has returned to the trenches with the Labour unions despite his altercations with Adams oshiomhole, the APC Chairman. And Oyeama Godfrey retains his foreign portfolio.
Below is the full list of the portfolios
1. Dr. Ikechukwu Ogah (Abia State) -Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development
2. Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa State) -Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
3. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom State)- Minister of Niger Delta
4. Chris Ngige (Anambra State)- Minister of Labour and Employment
5. Sharon Ikeazor (Anambra State)-Minister of State Environment
6.Adamu Adamu (Bauchi State) -Minister of Education
7.Ambassador Maryam Katagun (Bauchi State) State
8. Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa State) Minister of State, Petroleum under the President
9.George Akume (Benue State) Inter
10.Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno State) Minister of State, Agric and Rural Development
11. Goddy Jedy Agba (Cross River State) -Minister of State, Power
12.Festus Keyamo (Delta State) -Minister of State, Niger Delta
13. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi State) -Minister of Science and Technology
14. Osagie Ehanire (Edo State) -Minister of Health
15.Clement Ike (Edo State)
16. Richard Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti State) -Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
17. Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu State) -Minister of Foreign Affairs
18.Ali Isa Pantami (Gombe State) -Minister of Communications
19. Emeka Nwajiuba (Imo State) -Minister of State, Education
20. Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa State) -Minister of Water Resources
21. Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna State) -Minister of Finance
22.Muhammad Mahmood (Kaduna State) -Minister of Environment
23.Sabo Nanono (Kano State) -Minister of Agriculture and Development
24.Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano State) -Minister of Defence
25.Hadi Sirika (Katsina State) -Minister of Aviation
26.Abubakar Malami (Kebbi State)
27.Ramatu Tijjani (Kogi State)
28. Lai Mohammed (Kwara State)
29.Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara State) -Minister of State Transportation
30.Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State) -Minister of Works and Housing
31.Adeleke Mamora (Lagos State) -Minister of State, Health
32. Mohammed H. Abdullahi (Nasarawa State) Minister of State, Science and Technology
33. Zubair Dada (Niger State) Minister of State, Foreign Affairs
34. Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun State) Minsters of Mines and Steel development
35. Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo State)
36. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun State), Minister of Interior
37. Sunday Dare (Oyo State) Minister of Youths and Sports
38.Paulen Talen (Plateau State) Minister of Women Affairs
39. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State) Minister of Transportation
40. Maigarai Dingyadi (Sokoto State) Minister of Police Affairs
41. Sale Mamman (Taraba State) Minister of Power
42. Abubakar D. Aliyu (Yobe State) Minister of State for Housing
43. Sadiya Umar Faruk (Zamfara State), Minister of Humanitarian Affairs
