Politics

Buhari’s hold on power slackens in Nigeria; How the ‘coup’ happened

True to prediction, the breakaway faction of Nigeria’s ruling party, the Reformed-All Progressives Congress (R-APC) has formally dumped the mother party to join the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Published

6 years ago

July 25, 2018

Africa News Watch

In a dramatic move Tuesday, 52 lawmakers defected from APC to PDP. They were made up of 15 Senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives. The notes conveying the decision of the decampees were read by the respective heads of both houses of the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki of the Senate, and Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives.

The 52 lawmakers, in their collective letters, alleged irreconcilable differences within the APC as reason for pitching their tents with the opposition PDP.

SlamReportesAfrica had reported how, in the build up to the breakup, the ruling party had approached its aggrieved members with juicy offers to give up on their intentions to leave the party.

In no unmistaken terms, the aggrieved faction had said that the promise of juicy carrots to its members by the leadership of the APC was already too late to stop the R-APC from its planned defection.

The bombshell was dropped on Sunday in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kassim Afegbua.

The statement came on the heels of high powered meetings between the Presidency and perceived arrow head of the rebel group, Senate President Bukola Saraki.

In one instance, the meeting with Saraki was led by President Muhammadu Buhari himself while Chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, was caught in nocturnal consultations with Buba Galadima who has been the known figure behind R-APC.

Early attempts to abort a gathering of lawmakers occurred Tuesday as security operatives, allegedly from the Presidency, made futile efforts to prevent the Senate President and his deputy from accessing the National Assembly, venue of the defection exercise.

The development has radically altered the power configuration in the country’s legislative arm with the opposition PDP having majority of seats while shrinking APC’s control of the lower house.

Reacting to the political tremor, President Muhammadu Buhari said he wished the departing members best of luck in their future endeavours. The ruling party, however, would not concede that it had lost control at the National Assembly.

Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, said in his reaction to the defection of 52 federal lawmakers that the party respects the right of people to move to another party.

“APC notes the development in the National Assembly with the defection of some of our members from the party,” Abdullahi said in a statement.

“APC remains in firm control of 25 states of the 36 states of the federation and maintains a clear majority in the Federal House of Representatives and state assemblies.

However, the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, branded the defecting lawmakers ‘mercenaries.’

Analysts argue that the developments would have far reaching implications for the polity as the realignment of forces is expected to trickle down to the States of the federation where at least three governors and their supporters are likely to join the PDP bandwagon and ultimately alter the support base of President Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Politics

South Africa: Russia remains a valued ally, Ramaphosa tells Putin

Published

7 hours ago

October 24, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

At a bilateral meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday, the eve of the BRICS summit of developing economies that will be held in the Russian city of Kazan, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that South Africa viewed Russia as a valued ally.

“We continue to see Russia as a valued ally, as a valued friend who supported us right from the beginning, from the days of our struggle against apartheid,” Ramaphosa said, according to a clip of the two leaders’ meeting shared on social media by South Africa’s government news agency.

“We are going to have important discussions here in Kazan within the BRICS family,” the South African president added.

South Africa sees China and Russia as friends rather than rivals because it is working to create a more multipolar international order in which emerging nations have greater clout.

The BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—may benefit from the membership increase, particularly since Beijing and Moscow are trying to position the group as a viable alternative to the West as a result of geopolitical polarisation.

Politics

Nigeria’s Tinubu reshuffles cabinet

Published

21 hours ago

October 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following weeks of speculations around an imminent cabinet reshuffle in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday dismissed six ministers from his cabinet and sent seven new ministerial nominations to the National Assembly to fill the vacancies.

This was revealed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, to State House media following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was chaired by the President and held in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Additionally, Onanuga declared that eleven ministers had been given new responsibilities.

Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), Uju Kennedy Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Mohammad Gwarzo (State for Housing), Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), and Betta Edu (Humanitarian Affairs), who had been suspended but replaced were among the ministers removed from the cabinet.

Additionally, the President sent seven new ministerial candidates, including Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu (State for Foreign Affairs), the wife of the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, together with their portfolios to the National Assembly for approval.

Others include Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment; and Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, who takes over for the suspended Beta Edu Minister of Humanitarian, Affairs, and Poverty Reduction.

Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State, Education, Federal Ministry of Education; Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development.

The redeployed ministers include Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, former Minister of State, Education, now Minister of State Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa Minister of State, Health, now substantive Minister of Education, Bello Muhammad Goronyo Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, now Minister of State for Works.

Also redeployed are Abubakar Momoh, former Minister of Niger Delta Development, now Minister of Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, Minister of State Steel Development, now Minister of State, Regional Development and Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, now Minister of State Finance.

The former Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has been redeployed as the Minister of State Trade and Investment [Industry], Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who was the Minister of State, Police Affairs, is now Minister of Women Affairs, Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth Development, now Minister for Youth Development, while Dr. Salako Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye, Minister of State, Environment, now Minister of State, Health.

Meanwhile, reports emerged following the cabinet change of the president’s direction that ministers who have been fired and redeployed are to hand over to their successors by October 30, 2024.

With the most recent cabinet reorganisation, President Tinubu’s cabinet now consists of 46 federal ministers, down from 48 last year. The size is still a record since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, even with the decrease.

Nigeria’s constitution requires the president to select ministers in a way that fosters unity within the country and represents federal character.