EXCLUSIVE: AHEAD MAY 29 NIGERIA’S INAGURATION CEREMONY!
Northern Army Generals in Secret Meeting with Buhari…Desires 70% Ministerial Slots to North
*Discusses Oil Well Contracts, Federal Appointments
*Why Buhari Insists all Ministerial Appointees to Declare Assets
*Steps up Plans to Curtail Boko Haram ‘surprise’ Attack @ Eagle Square, Abuja
*Tinubu, Oyegun views list, Expresses Reservation, make Inputs
*PLUS: Olusegun Obasanjo’s Connection
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NORTH AMERICA
MAY 29, 2015, a day set aside for Nigeria’s In-coming elected President, General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) is sacrosanct at the Eagle Square, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. What is becoming cloudy and very unclear are the lists of intended Ministers of the Federal Republic to form bulk of this new government administration. Though Buhari, as a disciplined Nigerian former military Head-of-State had preferred an all-inclusive government of several political parties in Nigeria as his ministers, but this idea was kicked against by top echelon of retired Northern Army Generals who expressed their non-support.
Northern Army Generals in Secret Meeting with Buhari
Naija Standard can authoritatively tell you that in a tripartite meeting which held in Daura, hometown of Buhari, Abuja-in the house of Buhari and Minna Castle, the house of former Nigeria’s President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangia, IBB, ably attended by General Abdusalami Abubakar, also another Nigeria’s President representing the interest of the North had congratulated Buhari and told him point blank that they are elated “power has returned to its traditional base, and would ensure this power never leaves its dormitory.”
This nocturnal meetings had IBB and Abdusalami asked Buhari the choice of his ministerial appointees. And when Buhari replied with a list of his intended appointee, they said ‘no’, in that Northerners ought to be given a good share of 70 percent of the new administration’s ministerial appointments, since it is their turn to rule. A source at the meeting, an aide to Buhari squealed that the in-coming president had tried to make IBB and Abdusalami see reasons why he had to make an all-inclusive appointment to pacify other politicians from other political parties who may be unhappy they are not invited to form a government of national unity.
The aide said: “These meetings were three, held under the cover of darkness in Daura, Abuja and Minna. Generals IBB and Abdusalami represented the interest of Northern Army Generals in the meetings. They claimed that since they used their Northern political base connection to ensure Buhari won the recently concluded presidential election in the whole of the North, it is pay-back time for the North. This is why the North should have 70 percent of all ministerial appointments. Buhari looked so troubled in the meeting. He had raised concern about how General Olusegun Obasanjo would feel if he hears their submission, but they assured him not to worry, they will convince Obasanjo to accept it that way in the interest of peace, equity and tranquility in the country.”
Discusses Oil Well Contracts, Federal Appointments
Investigation by Naija Standard confirmed other issues that attracted discussion in the meeting include Oil Well contracts and Federal appointments into parastatals. It was allegedly agreed that those Oil Wells whose tenure had expired should not be renewed afresh, but committees should be put in place to investigate how some oil wells belonging to some politicians were ‘handed out’ by Out-going administration of President Goodluck Jonathan without due diligence followed. It was unanimously agreed, Oil Wells should be given to credible Nigerian businessmen without any ‘scandal, question-mark integrity and willing to pass through due diligence procedure of signature bonus’. For federal appointments, the Northern Army Generals said they are not in contention, since that can follow the nation’s quota system.
Why Buhari Insists all Ministerial Appointees to Declare Assets
Buhari had told the Northern Generals of his intention for all ministerial appointees to declare their assets, which they welcomed, describing such as a great idea of transparency and credibility both locally and internationally.
Tinubu, Oyegun views lists, Expresses Reservation, make Inputs
Naija Standard further gathered when Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of All Progressives Party, APC and Odigie Oyegun, National Chairman of APC got wind of this development, they had expressed their reservation to Buhari over the phone that that would be impossible, as they knew the role South West and South South played in the victory of the in-coming administration. Another date was agreed upon for them to meet on a round-table to finally agree on who and who will eventually make APC national government’s leadership list as ministers. As the days runs into weeks, Tinubu and Oyegun had drawn up their own lists to be compared with Buhari’s list; so that a compromise would be reached on the final ministerial list before inauguration.
Steps up Plans to Curtail Boko Haram ‘surprise’ Attack @ Eagle Square, Abuja
To guard against any ‘surprise attack’ by Boko Haram, Naija Standard can tell you that the Northern Generals said they had informed Jonathan to ensure Eagle Square, venue of the inauguration is security tight, with cars parked far away several perimeters from the venue after being frisked by anti-bomb detector machines. No vehicle would be allowed to stationery park by the Eagle Square.
