By Akinwale Kasali
The sack of Mohammed Nanono as Minister of Agriculture came as a surprise to many Nigerians. But not so to stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, especially, those in President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’.
Nanono had performed below expectations since his appointment in 2019 to replace Benue State- born Chief Audu Ogbeh.
President Buhari had said on Wednesday that Nanono and Mamman Saleh were sacked because they were weak in theie capacities, and he needed to reinvigorate his cabinet.
But those who know point out that Nanono had been one of the most controversial Cabinet members. He also had no statistics to show the progress being made by the Minstry under him. He was, instead, allegedly, busy with frivolities.
For instance, he built a N30m Mosque for Cattle Herders using the Federal allocation of his Ministry.
This led to clamour for his removal from different quarters, including Christian organizations and Non Governmental Organizations.
He also married an 18-year-old Secondary School Certificate holder in a secret wedding. Nanono, 74, tied the knot with Rakiya, the bride at a private wedding on Saturday, April 3, 2021in Jere Town, Kaduna State, warning people against disclosing the details of the marriage to people,”.
The decision to use part of the allocation of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to build a Mosque generated so much condemnation, his assistants in the Ministry were forced to defend their master.
Nigerians only got to know the highly secretive project through a leaked memo, which the ministry shamelessly defended, saying it built the mosque for livestock farmers.
Barely five months after the leaked memo which was seen as a slap on the APC administration even at a time the ruling Government was running from pillar to post in a bid to borrow money, President Buhari came with a sledge hammer.
The building of the Mosque was the beginning of his problem, and was part of the reason that led to his sack.
Unconfirmed reports say he might face some investigations over the affairs of the Ministry under his watch.
