Strong indication emerged Thursday that immediate past governors of Rivers and Benue states, Nyesom Wike and Samuel Ortom may be appointed as ministers in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu soon to be constituted.
Daily Champion learnt that a strong case for their appointment was made Thursday when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Group of 5 (G5) met behind closed doors with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa Abuja.
Their visit came on the heels of intense lobbying by various individuals and interest groups for ministerial positions in Tinubu’s administration
Recall that Wike, Ortom, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state and ex-governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state make up the G5.
They worked for the victory of Asiwaju Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
But speaking after the G5 visit to the President, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, said the “group is going towards Mr. President, who they described as an Apostle of “fairness, justice and equity in Nigeria.
“As you know, he has come with us on the route of fairness, justice and for equity in Nigeria.
Makinde who described nation building as “very difficult task”, added that “You have to keep evaluating, you know what your day, where you’re going. So, we have to keep seeing the President, to let him know what is happening.
He added that “for this evening the G-5, the integrity group, we also came to let the President know that we stand for fairness, justice, and equity”.
Meanwhile, two years after his arrests, Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State on Thursday, made case for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the federal government custody since June, 2021.
Mbah, speaking after a scheduled visit to the President, said the release of Nnamdi Kanu topped the agenda of his meeting with the President, who had earlier promised to “serve Nigeria with compassion”
“You know, that the South East has made a collective demand to have Nnamdi Kanu released.
“Basically, identified with that and request, Mr. President, who in his inaugural address promised the people that he’s going to engender national healing and he’s going to serve with compassion. So we’ve basically informed him that this would serve as a pointer to his administration’s extension of hands of fellowship to Neigbour”
Mba, said his administration has already made massive campaign promises to the people of Enugu, adding that “And we also have expressed humongous vision”
He noted that his administration has taken bold view of what the new government could achieve in the next four years, in terms of growing our economy from the current levels to $30 billion.
“And one of our core governance philosophy is to collaborate and to have partnership, and we have identified the federal government as our core partner. We have a number of dominant assets in Enugu which we believe partnering with the federal government, we’re able to transform them into productive assets.
He stated that the administration will also explore the huge mineral resources deposits for the development of the state
“These resources are sitting under our ground, not being productive. So we believe with the partnership we’re trying to basically build with the federal government, we’re able to transform these assets into productive assets
“The growth level we have proposed is one that is going to be driven by private sector and private sector want the ease of doing business and one of the core indicators of the ease of doing business is security and infrastructure.
“So we also had that conversation with Mr. President. We have made a very strong announcement. We’ve banned sit at home on Mondays in Enugu.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Mbah, who described the meeting as heartwarming, said partnership and collaboration with the federal government was critical to actualising his administration’s agenda for Enugu State, especially in the areas of economy, infrastructure, security, and activation of dormant assets.
“I came and frankly I brought to the President, the warm greetings and best wishes from the government and the people of Enugu state.
“But, above all, you may also know already that we made massive campaign promises to the people of Enugu”.
I look forward to cordial relationship with 36 Govs –Tinubu
Similarly, President Tinubu says he intends to have a cordial relationship with all governors of the 36 states in the country.
Tinubu, made this known in a post he shared on his Twitter handle on Thursday.
He stated that he aims to develop a prosperous nation.
He also shared pictures from his meeting with Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Umo Eno, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I was delighted, this morning, to receive in audience Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State #CalebMutfwang and later, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom.
“I look forward to a cordial and constructive relationship with all 36 Governors as we work to build a safe, secure, and prosperous Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he wrote.
Recall that Tinubu on Wednesday at Aso Rock met with the members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which is an umbrella body of the 36 State Governors.
