By Gabriel Achadu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to spend his two-week annual leave in the United Kingdom has reportedly been influenced by intense pressure from powerful forces within the government, according to sources close to the President.
Tinubu’s UK getaway is not just a break, but also a strategic move to temporarily distance himself from the pressure and interests of various groups seeking to influence his decision.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu left Abuja Wednesday for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation as part of his annual leave.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday said the President would use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms. He will return to the country after the leave expires.
The president celebrated Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day anniversary with a speech, in which he said the Federal Government would would launch an initiative this month to create 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. He also introduced a 30-day confab aimed at including the youth in his administration.
Daybreak report recently that Tinubu opted to sit out the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, directing Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent Nigeria at the global summit to enable him attend to pressing domestic issues.
Daybreak has confirmed from impeccable sources that the President had a change of mind just few days ago after Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, made the announcement of a possible cabinet reshuffle.
“Since then, the president has been under immense pressure from some powerful forces within and outside the government seeking to install their loyalists.
“The appointments of board members into the South East and North West Development Commissions have also generated bickering among various interest groups from both regions”, a source told Daybreak Friday morning.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs some breathing room to make tough decisions that will benefit the nation, even if it means ruffling a few feathers, including those close to him. Over the next two weeks, he is poised to take bold steps that will impact various sectors, reflecting his commitment to reforms and Nigeria’s overall progress.
“It is essential to recognise that the country’s current state demands courageous leadership. The economy, security, and infrastructure are areas that require urgent attention. President Tinubu’s administration has already shown signs of reform, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and introduction of a single exchange rate. The next would be those he has assigned various portfolios to, whether they have delivered or not. This would of course, be the basis for his decision”, another source said.
There is growing consensus among critical stakeholders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet needs a shake-up, despite some members showing flashes of brilliance. The call for a cabinet reshuffle is driven by the urgent need for competent and effective leadership to tackle Nigeria’s economic instability, rising inflation, rising insecurity, and governance lapses.
Many cabinet members have failed to deliver on their mandates, with 68% of Nigerians surveyed believing that only 10% of the cabinet members have done well since being appointed.
The country faces significant economic challenges, and a reshuffle is seen as a crucial step towards revitalizing President Tinubu’s administration and addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
So far, as reported by The Guardian newspaper on Thursday, September 26, 11 ministers (out of the over 40) have been pencilled down for replacement, with Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Tinubu, likely to be replaced with ex-Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola. Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reforms committee, is touted to be named the junior minister to Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
The report by the newspaper quoted insiders as saying a minister who served under the Muhammadu Buhari administration will be recalled. Furthermore, the report stated that stakeholders’ assessment showed that bar Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT); David Umahi, minister of works; and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior; all others performed below the key deliverables.
