New ministers: Insider reveals how Tinubu lost out

Contrary to expectations, National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, failed in his bid to have several loyalists on the ministerial list submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate last week, a credible source in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has disclosed.

A report this morning by Daily Independent quoted the unnamed source as disclosing that Tinubu failed in his bid to ensure that his allies and foot soldiers made the list.

“He said contrary to the impression being created that many of the nominees from the South-West are Tinubu’s choice who may be crucial to his rumoured 2023 presidential ambition, most of them are not his recommendations,” the report said.

It quoted the source as saying: “I think the president really meant what he said when he promised to appoint only people he knows. He was indirectly saying that he will not allow some power brokers foist their loyalists on him like they did in 2015. One of those affected is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose nominees were rejected by the president.

“In Ekiti, what many did not know that it was Governor Kayode Fayemi that nominated Otunba Niyi Adebayo. Because of his relationship with Tinubu, many thought it was Tinubu that nominated him, but the truth is that Tinubu actually submitted the name of Dele Alake, who served as commissioner for information under him but it was rejected.

“In Lagos, Tinubu also wanted Yemi Cardoso, a former commissioner for budget and economic planning, but the president settled for Olorunimbe Mamora while also retaining Babatunde Fashola.

“Despite winning Ogun State for APC despite the strong resistance from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the president also snubbed Tinubu who wanted Wale Edun, a former commissioner for finance during his tenure as governor of Lagos, but settled for Lekan Adegbite, a loyalist of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“The same also applies to Oyo State where Tinubu nominated Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past governor of the state, but President Buhari settled for Sunday Dare, an executive commissioner (stakeholder management) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Though Dare is one of Tinubu’s boys, the impression in the presidency is that he is more of a technocrat and will not have the kind of political influence someone like Ajimobi will have.

“He didn’t even nominate Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State. So, I think people are wrong if they say Asiwaju Tinubu’s loyalists dominated the list. The development is already unsettling leaders of the South-West APC but they are trying to manage it so as not to create the impression that things have fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold for them.”

However, speaking with Daily Independent, an unnamed official of the South-West APC said those insinuating that most of the appointees are not Tinubu’s loyalists are displaying ignorance as majority of them are his allies.

He also said rather than bother about who nominated who, Tinubu’s major interest is the national outlook and is pleased as long as the nominees have capacity to deliver and assist the president and the party to deliver on their promises to Nigerians. News Express