Politics
Buhari Reveals Why He Sacked Ministers
Published
4 years agoon
By
Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Minister of Agriculture, Mohammed Nanono and his Power counterpart, Saleh Mamman, were sacked in a bid to reinvigorate his cabinet and consolidate legacy achievements.
Buhari also hinted that the contributions of the ministers could be considered “weak”.
“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps,” he added.
The president said this in his address during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
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A copy of the address which was made available to The Punch correspondent by the president’s special adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also noted that the ministers were sacked after an independent and critical self-review of their performance.
Though the president did not reveal the rating of the sacked ministers’ performances, many Nigerians have continuously complained about the poor state of power and high price of food in the country.
After relieving the ministers of their jobs, the former military leader redeployed Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing was asked to assume office as the Minister of Power.
Buhari said that the sackings of the ministers was to also close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.
He said, “On Wednesday 21st August, 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in Office and to emphasise the nine priority areas of government for the second term.
“Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.
“I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.
“As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.”
The president explained that the sacked ministers had earlier been informed, adding that vacant positions would be filled in accordance with the constitution.
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“In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.
“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation.
“Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours,” he said.
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Protesters under the aegis of the Nigeria Society for Democracy and Good Governance (NSDGG) and the Coalition of Civil Society for Justice and Equity (CCSJE) took to the streets of Abuja on Wednesday, demanding that the Federal Government enforce court judgments declaring the occupation of Local Government Council Secretariats in Osun State by All Progressives Congress (APC) officials as illegal.
The protest, which began at the Unity Fountain and proceeded to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Finance, highlighted the escalating tension over the alleged disregard for judicial authority and its threat to democratic governance.
The civil society organisations urged the Attorney General, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Minister of Finance to intervene by recognising and funding only the duly elected officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the protesters, the PDP Chairmen and Councillors were validly elected on 22 February 2025, in an election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), in line with the Electoral Act 2022.
READ ALSO:CSO, PDP Bicker Over Fagbemi’s Stand On Osun LG Crisis
However, despite court rulings voiding the appointments of APC officials, the party’s functionaries allegedly continue to occupy council offices across the state.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, Chairman of the CCSJE, Comrade Collins Idowu, described the situation as a ‘profound threat’ to the rule of law and democratic governance.
He emphasised the financial and constitutional dangers of the ongoing crisis, calling on the Minister of Finance to withhold further allocations to illegally occupying APC officials and instead channel funds to the duly elected PDP Chairmen and Councillors.
“The current situation in Osun State is not merely a political issue; it is a profound threat to the rule of law and democratic governance.
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“Despite clear court judgments that have invalidated the APC officials’ claims to their positions, they continue to occupy Local Government Council Secretariats, undermining the very foundation of our democracy. This blatant disregard for judicial authority and electoral integrity is alarming and poses significant financial implications for the state and its citizens,” Idowu said.
On his part, the spokesperson for the NSDGG, Ambassador Usman Saidu Calculus, also described the situation as a threat to democracy.
He warned that continued financial support to those without a legal mandate sets a dangerous precedent and may trigger instability and chaos at the grassroots level of governance.
READ ALSO:Osun LG Crisis: Council Boss, PDP Trade Accusations
“The NSDGG stands firm in its commitment to promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria, and we believe that your actions in this matter will reflect the government’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and the principles of democracy.
“We demand that the government act decisively to rectify this situation by recognising the rightful representatives of the people and ensuring that public funds are allocated accordingly. The citizens of Osun State deserve to have their voices heard and their choices respected,” he said.
The protesters submitted letters to the offices of the Attorney General and the Minister of Finance, demanding strict adherence to the rule of law and the full implementation of valid court rulings.

The Protem State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Benue State, Chief Terngu Tsegba, has said Governor Hyacinth Alia is welcome to join the party if he so desires.
Speaking to newsmen Wednesday in Makurdi shortly after the unveiling of the party and his emergence as the Protem State Chairman, Chief Tsegba stated that members of other political parties were already collapsing their structures into the ADC and more were being expected.
He said: “Members of other parties are collapsing into the ADC, and anybody from any party that wants to join the ADC is welcome,e including the Governor of Benue state. If he wants to join the ADC, he is welcome provided he satisfies the requirements of the party.”
The former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Speaker Pro tempore of the House of Representatives explained that they had already resigned their membership of the PDP and were in the ADC to change the fortunes of the people of the state and Nigerians at large.
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While expressing optimism that the ADC would take Benue State, Chief Tsegba said an ADC-led government in the state would frontally address the issues of insecurity in the state.
“For us in Benue state, if there is security,y the farmers can go to their farms, small businesses will thrive, and of course, everything will go as planned. So the first issue we are going to confront as a party and as a government is to arrest the insecurity in the state, return our people to their ancestral homes and then grant autonomy to local governments.
“If the Local Government are receiving their allocation directly from the Federal Government I believe most of the things the state cannot do at the local government level, the Local governments would be able to handle them.
“And to do that we will scrap the Bureau for Local Governments and return the allocation to the local governments.”
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Unveiling the party earlier, former Governor of the State, Senator Gabriel Suswam stated that the coalition was born out of necessity, as the PDP, APC, Labour Party, LP, and other parties had been plagued by perpetual internal crises prompting the coming together of like minds in the ADC.
Meanwhile the PDP has described its members who joined the ADC as nomadic politicians seeking to destabilise the PDP for personal gains.
The party in a communique at the end of its Benue North West Senatorial District or Zone ‘B’ Stakeholders meeting held in Makurdi cautioned its members against joining any coalition.
Part of the communique read: “On the excitement over the new political platform, the PDP leaders describe former members of the party who have joined the coalition as an assemblage of nomadic politicians who are only seeking to destabilize the party for their personal and political gains.
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“They are aggrieved because they were out manoeuvred when they attempted to seize the structures of the PDP for merchandise. They have no capacity to rescue anyone from anywhere. It is a truism that the PDP remains the only party committed to protecting our heritage, land, and people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP in Zone B remains one and indivisible and rooted in the ideals of our founding fathers. We have no dealing with any coalition or the purported new political party in the name of ADC.
“We are not in any coalition with any political party or parties. We therefore encourage our members to disregard any speculations of any coalition at any level. Those championing the coalition are the disgruntled and self-serving elements amongst us who have long enjoyed the support of PDP but now seek to undermine the party’s unity and progress.”
(VANGUARD)
Politics
‘The Man I Defeated 32 Years Ago Hasn’t Forgiven Me’ – Ita-Giwa Laments Discrimination Against Women In Politics
Published
17 hours agoon
July 9, 2025By
Editor
A former lawmaker who represented Cross-River South Senatorial District, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has expressed dissatisfaction over the challenging political landscape for women contesting political office in Nigeria.
In an interview with Arise News, that Ita-Giwa, stated that the election process has become terribly expensive.
She cited several obstacles, including violent political climates, the overbearing influence of money, and entrenched patriarchy, as reasons why most women are unable to gain meaningful traction during party primaries or general elections.
Recounting her difficult journey to office, Ita-Giwa further stated that the political culture in Nigeria is so intensely male-dominated and unforgiving, stressing that the man she defeated in the House of Representatives election in the 1990s has not forgiven her.
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She said,“The women would have to contest the election, because if they don’t contest the election, they will not have a voice.
“And if it is just to select, I would not even talk about it, because somebody would just pick, put his hand in his pocket, and pick whoever he likes, which woman he likes to go and represent.
“But the good thing about this is that they’re going to contest the election. And also, it will be subject to review after, like, 16 years, that’s two election cycles, you understand?
“So, but because I’m being realistic, it is extremely, extremely difficult today for women to win elections. Election process has become so terribly expensive.
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“Those in the Senate today, they are pioneers. Because somehow, in the course of my doing politics, I discovered that when men get very, very, very successful, and still want to go into the Senate, maybe to protect their empire. So, you’ll be going for an election against one billionaire.
“A poor woman, you understand, if you have your $100,000, the man has $1 billion to put in the election, because there are 40 electorates with too much money. So, the contest is too tough.
“The men prepare more when they are going to face women for election, because what will they go home to go and tell their wives that a woman beat me for an election?
“So, you know, they can’t fight it. Even when you win, they don’t forgive you.
“The man that I defeated 32 years ago, he has not forgiven me for beating him.”
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