Those already distributing their curriculum vitae and lobbying to be appointed into the federal cabinet in an envisaged cabinet reshuffle as President Goodluck Jonathan’s government marks one year in office are in for a disappointment as the Presidency today confirmed it has no plan to change ministers now.
According to Reuben Abati, Special adviser to the President on media and publicity, said in a statement Wednesday that “Contrary to recent speculations in the media about a so-called impending cabinet reshuffle, the Presidency wishes to state emphatically that there is no truth whatsoever in the said reports.” He further confirmed that the President “has implicit confidence in the ability of the current crop of ministers to deliver and has no plan to undertake any replacement at the moment.”
Similarly, on alleged bad blood in the cabinet, Abati said it was also untrue. “There is also no truth in the alleged tension among ministers as a result of the rumoured imminent cabinet change. This is a calculated attempt to cause disaffection within the cabinet and divert the attention of members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, from their unwavering commitment to the implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan Administration. The speculation about cabinet change is the handiwork of mischief-makers who seem bent on frustrating the good intentions of the Federal Government to deliver on the campaign promises of President Jonathan. We advise the public to ignore the antics of these mischief makers.”
There have been reports of recent that some of the ministers have started to lobby to be retained on the cabinet, because the President was believed to be planning to make changes. Perhaps this may put an end to the speculations. That is if the release from the presidency was not a ploy intended to shift attention from the issue. The speculation for impending cabinet change heightened when report of the oil subsidy probe was made public.
