As President Muhammadu Buhari shops for ministers to serve in the yet-to-be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC), Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Tuesday offered to nominate the minister to represent Ekiti State.
The governor in a letter to President Buhari dated May 31 promised to send what he called “a worthy and competent Ekiti professional for appointment” as minister in the All Progressive Congress (APC) government.
Fayose noted that his request to nominate a ministerial candidate to represent Ekiti interests in the federal cabinet “was based on the declaration made by the President that would put overall interest of the country above partisan interests and biases”.
“Should the request be favourably disposed to, I shall be happy to nominate a worthy and competent professional who can always oblige your excellency and your cabinet the benefit of a second opinion in the serious business of governance”.
The Governor also hinted that his letter was on the strength of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 147 Sub-Section (2) and (3).
The Sub-section state as follows: “Any appointment to the office of the Minister of the government of the Federation shall if the nomination of any such person to such office is confirmed by the Senate , be made by the President.
“Any appointment under sub- section (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provision of section 15 (3) of this constitution provided that in giving effect to the provision aforesaid, the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state who shall be indegene of such state.
Fayose argued that Ekiti is a PDP-controlled state where the governor, the National Assembly and the State Assembly members are all PDP members.
He contended that “in the spirit of emplasing and all inclusive government with capacity for national integration,” the President should accord him the honour and privilege to name the minister that will come from Ekiti State.
In substantiating his argument, Fayose said the PDP administration led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo appointed opposition figures into the then federal cabinet.
He cited the example of the late Chief Bola Ige who was initially appointed Minister of Power and Steel before he was later appointed Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice by Obasanjo.
Fayose also cited the example of former AD National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir who was appointed by Obasanjo as Special Adviser.
But the APC in a reaction by its Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun has described Fayose’s request as “a gratuitous insult and madness at its worst fits”.
The party said: “Even if he were to be APC governor, haven’t President Muhammadu Buhari made it plain that he won’t allow the governors to pick ministers for him?
“Why didn’t Fayose fight for Governor Kayode Fayemi to allow him suggest Ekiti ministerial nominees for President Goodluck Jonathan when the former President was appointing his ministers?
“We hope Fayose will, for once, strike a sane chord in his public conduct and stop hallucinating about the right to nominate candidates for Ekiti ministerial slot, “APC stated.
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