It was also gathered that about 45 per cent of former cabinet members will return to take Buhari’s policies to the ‘Next Level’.
Of course, the list is as controversial as it is surprising to some who are close to the president.
For example, it was learned that the president has picked Great Ovedje Ogboru to represent Delta State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) against the choice of Festus Keyamo.
In Oyo, former Governor Abiola Ajimobi makes the list, leaving former Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu, and governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, according to a source, ‘in the lurch’
Amongst those lucky to return are former Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Aviation (State), Hadi Sirika; Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Finance, Zainab Ahmed.
Others are former Ministers of Education, Adamu Adamu; Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello; Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Mines & Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari.
Surprisingly, on the list are the current National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole; former military administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) and the immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Abdullahi Abubakar.
Initially in contention with Ogboru over the slot for Delta State was Keyamo, who played a key role in Buhari’s re-election.
But after subsequent reviews of his options, Buhari was said to have resolved to make Keyamo a Special Adviser, while Ogboru, who has attempted the governorship seat a few times, minister.
In the South-West All Progressives Congress (APC), the choice of ministers remains contentious because of competing interests and the president has made his choice without further deferring to APC leaders since there was no consensus amongst them.
For instance, in Oyo State, it was initially a straight fight between Ajimobi and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Adebayo Adelabu.
Shittu was also on the card.
Sources, however, hinted that the lot has eventually fallen on Ajimobi as the candidate for Oyo.
In Osun, there was heightened disagreement over the choice of former governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and others, who thought that the opportunity to serve should be extended to other members of the party for their role in the success of the party during the 2019 elections.
But sources squealed to Freedom Online that Aregbesola, who stood taller than the forces against him, albeit not on account of merit or more contributions to the APC success but the strength of the forces behind him, had been picked.
In Ekiti State, unless the unexplained happens, the first civilian governor of the state, Adeniyi Adebayo, has been shortlisted as the candidate, preferred by the political leadership in the state, especially Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The source declared authoritatively that “there is no way former Governor Segun Oni will become a minister given the forces against him”.
Unfortunately, the situation in Ogun State was said to have presented a rather complex scenario as the various interest groups on the turf of the state, including the familiar external forces, took their rivalry, vested interest and mutual distrust to the national front.
Former Governor Segun Osoba is one of the principal players in this regard.
While some interests had pushed for a former Commissioner for Commerce, Bimbo Ashiru, there were those who wanted a former deputy governor, Segun Adesegun, even as two other camps are rooting for a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos, Wale Edun and Senator Lanre Tejuosho, from Ogun Central.
Of course, the list is as controversial as it is surprising to some who are close to the president.
For example, it was learned that the president has picked Great Ovedje Ogboru to represent Delta State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) against the choice of Festus Keyamo.
In Oyo, former Governor Abiola Ajimobi makes the list, leaving former Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu, and governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, according to a source, ‘in the lurch’
Amongst those lucky to return are former Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Aviation (State), Hadi Sirika; Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Finance, Zainab Ahmed.
Others are former Ministers of Education, Adamu Adamu; Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello; Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Mines & Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari.
Surprisingly, on the list are the current National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole; former military administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) and the immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Abdullahi Abubakar.
Initially in contention with Ogboru over the slot for Delta State was Keyamo, who played a key role in Buhari’s re-election.
But after subsequent reviews of his options, Buhari was said to have resolved to make Keyamo a Special Adviser, while Ogboru, who has attempted the governorship seat a few times, minister.
In the South-West All Progressives Congress (APC), the choice of ministers remains contentious because of competing interests and the president has made his choice without further deferring to APC leaders since there was no consensus amongst them.
For instance, in Oyo State, it was initially a straight fight between Ajimobi and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Adebayo Adelabu.
Shittu was also on the card.
Sources, however, hinted that the lot has eventually fallen on Ajimobi as the candidate for Oyo.
In Osun, there was heightened disagreement over the choice of former governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and others, who thought that the opportunity to serve should be extended to other members of the party for their role in the success of the party during the 2019 elections.
But sources squealed to Freedom Online that Aregbesola, who stood taller than the forces against him, albeit not on account of merit or more contributions to the APC success but the strength of the forces behind him, had been picked.
In Ekiti State, unless the unexplained happens, the first civilian governor of the state, Adeniyi Adebayo, has been shortlisted as the candidate, preferred by the political leadership in the state, especially Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The source declared authoritatively that “there is no way former Governor Segun Oni will become a minister given the forces against him”.
Unfortunately, the situation in Ogun State was said to have presented a rather complex scenario as the various interest groups on the turf of the state, including the familiar external forces, took their rivalry, vested interest and mutual distrust to the national front.
Former Governor Segun Osoba is one of the principal players in this regard.
While some interests had pushed for a former Commissioner for Commerce, Bimbo Ashiru, there were those who wanted a former deputy governor, Segun Adesegun, even as two other camps are rooting for a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos, Wale Edun and Senator Lanre Tejuosho, from Ogun Central.