President Goodluck Jonathan has sworn in eleven new ministers who
where all cleared by the Senate.
President said Aliyu Gusau, a retired general and former spy master, will
serve as Minister of Defence; while Musiliu Obanikoro, a former senator, will
serve as Minister of State for Defence.
Mohammed Wakil is to serve as Minister of State Power, while Abduljelili
Adesiyan will serve as Minister of Police Affairs, and Aminu Wali will serve as
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Akon Eyakenyi will serve as Minister of Land and Housing, while Lawrencia
Mallam will serve as Minister of Environment. Asabe Ahmed will serve as
Minister of State for Agriculture, Boni Haruna will serve as Minister of Youth
Development, and Khaliru Alhassan will serve as Minister of State for Health.
The President announced Tamuno Danagogo as new Minister of Sports, to
replace Mr. Abdulahi, whose sack was later announced by Reuben Abati, the
presidential spokesperson.
Speaking further at the short ceremony which held at the Council Chambers of
the Presidential Villa, before the commencement of the weekly meeting of the
Executive Council of the Federation, Mr. Jonathan announced that more ministers
are expected to come in next week. He charged the new ministers to be creative
and ensure they succeed in the tasks ahead of them. “Next week more ministers
will come in.
After that we would have clear cut discussion of how the FEC will run,” he
said. He noted that being Nigerians, the new appointees already know the
problems the country is facing as the challenges are projected on a daily basis
by the media. He told the ministers that they have to succeed in their
appointments.
“Public office is public trust and you owe the people a public good. “We
must listen to the people. I want you to see yourselves as servants. If by the
time you are leaving, you cannot say that you have brought some innovations
with your creativity, then you have failed,” he said.
“Your duty is to ensure that you bring positive changes. You have to relate
well with your colleagues. Because of the conflict between the ministers and
ministers of state, we will make sure we review the schedules to curtail such
conflicts,” the president said. He also urged them to work together and be team
players.
Mr. Jonathan urged the new ministers to bring their experience to bear as
the designations do not really matter. He assured them that they are eminently
qualified serve as Nigerian ministers.
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