While Nigerians are anxiously waiting for the list of ministers that will join as part of the new administration’s executive council, evidence has emerged that crisis among leading figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a result of the just concluded National Assembly leadership elections may be partly responsible for the delay in the presentation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list.
The indication emerged on Monday while the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, spoke during an interview with journalists at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
During the interview, Odigie-Oyegun noted that APC was working hard to ensure that the differences among its legislators were quickly resolved in the interest of the nation.
He said the unity of APC members, in both chambers of the National Assembly, remains the party’s first priority.
He maintained that all other activities will have to wait because adequate results can only be found if there is unity among the lawmakers.
“So we are trying to sort that out; it is our number one priority,” Odigie-Oyegun said.
“We are happy that we are arriving at amicable settlement of the situation; this one cannot wait for long. It has to be immediate.”
He, however, explained that while the party was working with the President to build a formidable team comprising of tested politicians and technocrats, the decision to appoint ministers and presidential aides was entirely the prerogative of the President.
The party chairman said this amidst speculations that the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Babba Ahmed Jidda, and former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, were frontrunners for the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Odigie-Oyegun dismissed insinuations that the there is a rift between the party and the President over the ministerial list.
He maintained that there is absolutely no dispute between the party and the president.
Odigie-Oyegun said: “What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President.”
“What we are interested in is the ability of the people to bring up the ideas that will help Mr. President achieve the set objectives and the ability to deliver on what the President wants.
“Secondly, this (appointment) is an executive function and the President has the right to consult as widely as possible. This means he might pick people within the party; people outside the party.
“It is a prerogative the President should exercise and we cannot question that. We are quite happy about the way he is proceeding.”
On the choice of SGF, the chairman said he has not, in anyway, solicited for any position other than the national chairmanship of APC.
He said: “I think I am clear enough, isn’t it? And nobody has approached me on that he is considering me either on that position or another.”
The chairman appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with Buhari as he picks his team because, he is naturally a very careful person who wants to be sure that the people he appoints are those who share his passion about the country.