On Wednesday, March 17th, Goodluck Jonathan dissolved Nigeria's Federal Executive Council (FEC). The FEC is the collection of Nigeria's Ministers. Since then, there has been great speculation on which former Ministers would be asked to return, and what new individuals will get an opportunity to become Ministers. There are also various prospective lists of a possible new FEC floating around in Abuja.
While many continue to speculate, below is guest blogger T's fantasy picks for Ministerial positions in the Jonathan cabinet.
MY DREAM TEAM FOR NIGERIA'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH
- AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES - Ahmadu Adamu Mu'Azu, former Governor of Bauchi State.
- COMMERCE & INDUSTRY - Ernest Ndukwe, outgoing National Communications Commission chief.
- CULTURE & TOURISM - Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross Rivers State.
- DEFENSE - Gusau, newly appointed to the same post by Jonathan.
- EDUCATION - Wole Soyinka, our Nobel laureate.
- ENVIRONMENT - Amina Mohammed Hassan, a former classmate of mine. Give her an executive task...consider it done.
- Abuja FCT - I don't know. Decide between Aliero, Odom, and Muhtar on merit. (Respectively, the three men are the outgoing minister of Federal Capital Territory, Minister of State for FCT, and Minister of Finance)
- FINANCE - Tony Elumelu, recently idle CEO of UBA.
- FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, bringing sexy back, former Minister of Finance.
- HEALTH - Fatima Zara Isa-Modibbo/Iorfa Tor-Anyiin. Both are 26-year old doctors. Fatima was awarded this year for Excellence in Public Service at The Future Nigeria awards. I trust her, even if we've never talked. Iorfa is phenomenal and has a passion for delivering health care to people no matter how rural. Nominated in the same category at The Future.
- INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION - Dora Akunyili. Let her keep talking and rebranding.
- JUSTICE - I don't know. Keep Adetokunbo Kayode, the one appointed weeks ago?
- LABOUR - Pat Utomi. Nigerian economist and former presidential candidate.
- MINES & STEEL - Nasir El-Rufai, former FCT Governor/Minister, that the impossible (steel production in Nigeria for example) may become possible.
- NATIONAL PLANNING - Nuhu Ribadu, former head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
- NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS - Saro Wiwa, Ken's son. The vision would be to achieve conflict resolution and dissolve this ministry within a year or two.
- PETROLEUM RESOURCES - Shamsudeen Usman, economist, former Finance Minister, outgoing National Planning Minister.
- POWER - Seke Shomolu, engineer, former chief of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and technical chief at NEPA.
- POLICE AFFAIRS - Muhammadu Buhari, former military President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria, presidential candidate, and warrior against indiscipline and corruption.
- SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - Fakinlede, my Head of Department at the University of Lagos. Crazy how he gets things done to advance technology education in this funky town.
- SPORTS - Frank Nweke, Jnr. , former Minister for Special Duties, current chief of Nigerian Business Forum.
- TRANSPORT & AVIATION - wildcard position, award on merit to one of the outgoing ministers.
- WOMEN AFFAIRS - Hafsat Abiola-Costello, chairperson of KIND, a women's-focused NGO.
- WORKS & HOUSING - Babatunde Fashola, current governor of Lagos State. Yes o!
- YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - Femi Falana, civil rights lawyer.
- INTERIOR - Maryam Uwais, lawyer, on the Presidential Advisory Council.
- SPECIAL DUTIES - Victoria Ezeokoli, former NTA Director.
If you would like to be a Guest Writer for Nigerian Curiosity, please use the 'Contact' button above to reach SolomonSydelle, the blog administrator.
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14 Curiosities. Add Yours.:
This is a real fantasy sha.
I'm wondering why everyone is saying Mrs. Akunyili should keep her job though, this "rebranding" exercise that she's sunk money into, aren't we the former fraudsters now terrorists?
Not to pick on just her though, because they're some other criminals and underperformers I see on this fantasy list... Tony Elumelu ke? ... Donald Duke, Mr. Fineboy himself... Tinapa is still empty y'all.
I don't get into political discussions, so I will stop there, but this is an insightful fantasy list.
- Kpakpando from Facebook
haha is that available on Xbox? Fantasy Federal Exec 2K10?
- Egodujour from Twitter
As Fantasy, I agree with all the appointments. Let's just call them the Dream Team.
Only in my dreams, will Prof. Wole Soyinka be Educ. Minister and Gen. Buhari accept to be a Minister. LOL!
Gusau was appointed National Security Adviser, not Defense Minister. I think Gen. Godwin Abbe may continue there.
N.I.M.M.O
Excellent post even though I fancy SolomonSydelle, lawyer, social observer and political commentator for the Information portfolio. Also, Prof Soyinka is not going to thank you for this one. You wrote it, you might as well take the education role. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala sexy? Thank you for making my day.
Are you serious or are you Joking?
Tony Elumelu was the undisputed king of "Round-tripping" (a fraudulent scheme of floating thousands of fictitious companies in order to inflate bidding requirements for forex from the CBN) while he was CEO of the now defunct Standard trust bank. Are you kidding me? He'd steal Nigeria blind. He's a master at scheming and Bribery.
Buhari, Police affairs? who murdered those indicted drug pushers and imprisoned journalists when he wrested power from Shagari? He who wants to turn Nigeria into a sharia state? We might as well resurrect Abacha and give him the Ministry of Youth Development or something so he can teach our youth how to be lowlifes. Are you kidding me or are unaware of the antecedents of your nominees?
Hafsat Abiola and Saro-Wiwa because of their fathers deaths or what? On what basis did you make your sellection?
More horror than fantasy I would say.
Yeah, let's do the electronic game, I mean, everybody knows who should be on (and who should not be allowed NEAR, the cabinet :) It's not rocket-science. Will the president fudge it up? Again? The suspense!
I wondered what ppl think about Buhari...he will be running again for President. I've heard a yearning for him from some quarters. Then there is the tough military profile, which could be a problem.
Hafsat Abiola's NGO is at www.kind.org
@ Tosin: Thank you so very much for being this month's guest writer. I would be lying if I said that I agree with all the names included on the list. Buhari is someone I feel is discredited by his pandering for Abacha and singing the tyrant's praises. I do not believe anyone with self respect could paint Abacha to be anything other than what he was - a thief and murderer (i.e. the Ogoni 9). In fact, I think the Constitution should be amended to prevent ALL former dictators from ever running for office. But, I thoroughly respect your opinion.
As for Akunyili, I have to say that if I was picking cabinet members, she wouldn't get my vote. Her recent ,Channels TV interview, while entertaining and seemingly pro-masses, was unprofessional. The better thing would have been for her to resign and then use the interest in her resignation & her popularity as a launching pad to say whatever she felt about the government. Besides, I have to echo Kpakpando's comment about the rebranding project. As much as I support what that project could be, it continues to leave plenty to be desired. And it cannot be ignored that it took bloggers & the Nigerian online community to get a government reaction to the District 9 wahala, particularly the comments made by the ,director. God bless her, and I understand why yourself and others want her back, but personally, she wouldn't get my vote.
Nor would Ribadu - I listened to him talk at a Young African Professionals event and well, all I will say is that while I respect the courage it must have taken to lead the EFCC, I don't get the impression he plays well with others which could make him a rogue official capable of embarrassing the government. That might be a good thing in certain cases, but please see my suggestions on what Dora should have done. I think Ribadu would make a similar gaffe.
I also think Wole Soyinka would probably do much better as a political outsider than the reverse. As such, I wouldn't nominate him for any public office. For sure, he has the international clout & local respect, but that's another cat that doesn't play well with others. =)
Definitely Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would be a "good look" for the country. But, I wonder if she would dare come back after the way she was treated. What do you think? Besides, that scandal involving her husband, a young mistress, and a blackmail would create certain image problems for a potential Nigerian Minister. Problems Nigeria does not need.
Nevertheless, I just want people who are going to come into office with a can-do attitude, and a strategy to effect positive change no matter how small in the lives and mentality of the citizenry. Duke could possibly do that, given his experience in Calabar. I'm simply tired of crying for Nigeria and believing that the nation's leadership have nothing to offer.
And before I forget, may you have extremely long life for not including Maduekwe. I respect that man's ability to be a minister for at least 10 years, as he bragged on the BBC, but he will unfortunately be remembered for spending N2.7 bn on travel expenses alone in 2009, the villa he built in his village (have you seen the pictures? Quite lovely, frankly) and unfortunate comments about homosexuals and the supposed lack of any in Nigeria.
Again, thanks for this post, it has sparked much discussion and thinking. I personally enjoyed it very much! And since this is probably the longest comment I have left at my own blog, I better stop right now...
perfect list except YOUTH= FELA DUROTOYE
- Daydah from Twitter
I liked the dream team list...but errrrmm...I'm not sure abt all the people. Yes, bring Ngozi's sexy back!
- Erere from Facebook
I'm not sure about all the people either, but I like the effort.
We need performance in so many sectors. With each name chosen for expected performance, the team would be strong, even if 10% don't play well with others, 10% are thieving rogues, 10% are loose canons,... On the whole, they would perform.
It is because Dora performed (at least we know the slogan, at least there was a - cleverly timed ;) - letter) that some people think, hey, better Dora than some folks who did nothing but dress beautifully their entire tenure. When there is so much to be done.
While I like Prof. Soyinka as an outsider, it's beautiful when real power meets good intentions. He could be a good administrator; although I don't know this for a fact, wouldn't it be great?
Maduekwe, hewo! I'm also glad about Egwu, formerly of education being gone for good. What kind of society inflicts such hardship on their youth?
...I'm really glad to have a guest post on this really good blog. True. Enjoying the comments.
@ T: Hmm, I can't disagree with your analysis of Dora. People definitely would prefer Dora - that saying, "the devil you know is better than..." comes to mind, not that Dora should be considered a devil by any means.
I continue to be grateful that you didn't list Uncle Ojo. I am even tempted to say something nice about the now released list of potential ministers for the very same reason.
Anyway, I continue to say thanks for providing us with a list that actually got us thinking and discussing.
Thanks again.
I think their should.I mean a lot of people complain about how e feds dont belong on the wrestling section,they surely dont belong on fantasy sports,so I think their should be a whole section devoted to e feds.
No matter if some one searches for his necessary thing, thus he/she desires to be available that
in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
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