The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, is in strong contention to become a minister, News
Express can report
this morning.
“He has been penciled down to replace Labaran Maku as Minister
of Information when the President reconstitutes his cabinet,” a reliable source
at the Presidency informed News
Express.
The source said that Abati had been lobbying for the position,
including using the President’s mother, Madam Eunice Ayi Jonathan, to reach the
heart of Dr. Jonathan.
The source did not, however, say if Maku, who has had a
lackluster tenure as Information Minister, would be reassigned or dropped from
the cabinet. Maku is presently doubling as Supervising Minister of the Ministry
of Defence.
President Jonathan is in the process of replacing 10 ministers
dropped over the past one month. While Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir was sacked as
Minister of Youth Development on August 26, nine others were relieved of their
appointments on September 11.
They are Prof. Ita Okon Bassey Ewa (Science and
Technology); Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs); Dr. Shamshudeen Usman
(National Planning); Professor Ruquayattu Rufa’i (Education); Ms Amma Pepple
(Housing and Urban Development); Hajia Hadiza Malaifia (Environment). Three
ministers of state were also affected – Ms. Zainab Kuchi, Minister of State for
Power; Olusola Obada, Minister of State for Defence; and Bukar Tijani, Minister
of State for Agriculture.
News Express
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