There are Indications that President Goodluck
Jonathan might have concluded plans to offload four ministers from his cabinet
in a reshuffle that is about to take place this month.
The four ministers; Elder Godsday Orubebe, Mr.
Bala Muhammad, Stella Odua and Labaran Maku, are said to have indicated
interest in the 2015 election and had obtained the tacit approval of the
President to proceed with the process of contesting the gubernatorial elections
in their respective states.
A competent source told Vanguard that the cabinet reshuffle,
the first major one to be undertaken by President Jonathan since coming into
office after the 2011 election, is planned to mark the second anniversary of
his administration and to pave the way for those with higher political ambition
to actualise their plans.
The source said that there might be more
ministers who are interested in taking over from the current set of governors
across the country but that the picture would emerge in the next few days as
the President was set to unfold the shape of his cabinet that would enable him
to deliver dividends of democracy to the nation and win re-election in 2015.
The source hinted that it was as a result of the
subtle blessing given the Niger Delta Minister by Jonathan to begin the process
of taking over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State that made Orubebe
publicly announce his gubernatorial ambition to the people of the state during
a recent visit.
Although, the declaration of his political
interest to rule Delta State has pitted him against his godfather, a source
close to the Presidency said that the apparent difference would be resolved in
Orubebe’s favour since Clark could not disagree with Jonathan’s interest.
“The most important development in the Delta
situation is that Orubebe has got the endorsement of both President Jonathan
and Governor Uduaghan. At the appropriate time, Clark who brought Orubebe into
the ministerial seat, will calm down,” the source explained.
It was also learnt that the Federal Capital
Territory Minister, Mr. Bala Muhammad, had also pleaded with the President to
allow him contest as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Bauchi State so
as to take over from his former boss, Mallam Isa Yuguda.
The major snag in Muhammad’s case, however, is
that an influential female player in the administration of Jonathan described
as Bala’s godmother might not be favourably disposed to allowing him to leave
the crucial FCT ministerial post for the murky water of politics.
The woman, it was gathered, was instrumental to
Bala’s choice in 2010 and re-appointment in 2011 and would therefore grudgingly
acquiesce to his ‘untimely’ exit from the cabinet.
In the case of Labaran Maku and Stella Odua, the
source explained that political strategists believe that they have what it
takes to wrestle power from the opposition governors in Nasarawa and Anambra
states and give the PDP an edge in the next election.
Maku, an Eggon, the largest tribe in Nasarawa
State, may, however, have to contest against Solomon Ewuga, another strong
politician, who recently won a court victory to represent the area in the
Senate.
Odua, a strong campaigner for Jonathan, is also
said to have the ears of Governor Peter Obi, who is enjoying his second term in
office and is seen as the arrow head of support for President Jonathan in the
South-East.
A cabinet member, who spoke in confidence to Vanguard confirmed that there were
permutations around 2015 and that the President being a democrat would not
stand in the way of any member with political ambition.
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