President Muhammadu Buhari has snubbed some members of the inner power circle popularly known as ‘Cabal’ over whom to appoint ministers in his new cabinet.
According to The Nation, members of the ‘Cabal’ went to London to meet with President Buhari but were denied access based on strict orders from him.
According to reports unlike in 2015, Buhari has not hit up governors-elect or APC chieftains to ask for names as he is keeping things to himself this time.
A top source said: “It seems Buhari has realised that there are some deadwoods in his cabinet which he ought to offload.
“He is keeping the choice of new ministers to himself alone.
“His London itinerary was not only kept to himself until the last minutes, he did not allow close associates, strategists and members of his kitchen cabinet to have access to him in London.
“Those who went to London came back empty handed.
“Only an outgoing minister was allowed access to the President. And the minister was still in London as at 7pm today (yesterday).
“We do not know what informed this sudden change of attitude, but it seems the President is really determined to live up to his promise to leave sustainable legacies in his second term by looking for the right people to serve in his cabinet.”
A top government source also said the president has not approached the part for names.
“Does he really need it? Are you saying he does not know what to do unlike 2015? “He did not request for nominations from the APC governors not to talk of receiving any list from them.
“Some governors attempted to gauge his mood but he was noncommittal. He only kept quiet and allowed the governors to do the talking.
“Both the party and the governors have also respected themselves by not putting pressure on him.”
A governor said: “The truth is that we have not been asked by the President to make recommendations on ministerial nominees.
“We have tried to be careful too because he does not choose our commissioners for us.
“I can say that we are really in the dark like other Nigerians. “Ironically, some of the outgoing ministers run to governors to influence their retention by the President.
“We cannot say whether or not the President will consult us.”
