By ohanele casca
The long expected Federal cabinet reshuffle has finally come as President Goodluck Jonathan relieves 9 ministers of their positions yesterday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
The ministers affected in the shake up include: Olugbenga Ashiru of Foreign Affairs; Prof Ruquyyatu Ahumed Rufai of Education; Samsudeem Usman. National planning; Hadiza Mailafia, Environment; Ama Pepple, Housing & Urban Development; Ita Okon, Science& Technology; Erelu Olusola Obada, Minister of state for Defence; Buka Janan, Minister of state Agriculture and Zainab Kunchi, Minister of state Power.
Meanwhile, expectation and permutations were high as many Nigerians envisage that Prof Viola Onwuliri may be repositioned to take over the education Ministry.
As at press time reasons for dropping the 9 ministers are still sketchy but people have been expecting the exercise for long considering the emergence of the newly registered APC and PDM and the alignment of political personalities to these parties.
Analysts are also of the opinion that the crisis in the ruling party, the PDP, may have also contributed in causing the exercise. The appointment and disengagement of ministers are based on loyalty to party and the president and none performance and other interests.
Considering the loyalty and the performance of Prof Viola Onwuliri in her position as Minister of state 1, Foreign Affairs, people are praying for her to be appointed Minister of Education to help solve the lingering problem in the education sector.
With this present development, politicians, technocrats and their godfathers have started beseaching the Aso villa to draw the attention of the presidency on their suitability or that of their godsons to be considered for a ministerial slot. It is hoped that those to be appointed to fill the vacant positions are those who will be an asset to the presidency politically and will help President Goodluck Jonathan realize his transformation Agenda.
