President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the names of seven new ministers to the Senate for confirmation.
Among
the nominees are a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu
Obanikoro, Kenneth Kobani, a former National Treasurer of the defunct
Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], who recently defected to the Peoples
Democratic Party, and a former Senator, Patricia Akwashiki.
Mr.
Obanikoro was one of the biggest casualties of the gubernatorial
primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], after resigning his
ministerial position on October 15 to vie for the party’s ticket in
Lagos for the 2015 election.
He lost to Jimi Agbaje, a relatively less known candidate, who had the backing of the party’s most powerful leaders in Lagos.
Alongside
Mr. Obanikoro, former ministers Emeka Wogu, Labaran Maku, Onyebuchi
Chukwu, and Samuel Ortom, also lost their bids after leaving their posts
to contest in their respective states.
Mr. Obanikoro rejected
the Lagos results and filed a legal challenge against the declaration of
Mr. Agbaje as winner, kicking off a row that has the potential to ruin
any chances the party may have in snatching Lagos from All Progressives
Congress, APC in 2015.
The logjam was finally been resolved
amicably after President Goodluck Jonathan assured Mr. Obanikoro he
would reappoint him to cabinet as part of a deal personally brokered by
the President to get him to discontinue his legal challenge of the PDP
governorship primary result for Lagos State.
Mr. Obanikoro later withdrew his court case, at the same time promising to fully support Mr. Agbaje as the PDP candidate.
Credit: PremiumTimes
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