Ministerial list: Avuru dispels rumours of his appointment as Petroleum Minister
Sopuruchi Onwuka
The jubilation in the Nigerian petroleum industry over news of new political appointees in the new administration of the federal government sank into sober quietude when eminent industry persona, Mr Austin Avuru, declared that he could not confirm the authenticity of the new ministerial list.
Mr Avuru, a very candid and strident industry stalwart who has traversed the full petroleum industry business loop, told The Oracle Today that he could not confirm any political appointment in the petroleum industry positioning him as the minister.
Further enquiries also showed that the new presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, had also cautioned the public to be wary of fake ministerial lists being circulated by people who have a window on the inner working of the new administration of the federal government.
According to different online sources, Avuru was listed in the new ministers being compiled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has promised that he would give the people the Nigeria of their dreams.
Credible sources in the Presidency told The Oracle Today that ministerial appointees would necessarily know of their recommendations ahead of time, saying that the appointees would normally be contacted to advance their resumes, go through security screening including interviews and questioning by the Department of Security Services (DSS) and declarations before their names would make the final list.
It is not however clear at what point the names in the list leaked to the public. And it would not ethical for those contacted to disclose such contacts to the public. The process makes it even more complicated to confirm ministerial nominations by those in the list until their names are announced.
The controversial list has Dr Hassan M Liman (SAN) as Attorney General of the Federation and Babatunde Ogala as the new Solicitor General of the Federation.
It also has Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser; Augustine Avuru as Minister of Petroleum Resource; Aisha Ahmad for Minister of Finance; and Mr Dapo Okubadejo for the Minister of Finance.
There is also Sen Adam Oshomole as Minister of Work & Housing; Bashir Machina as Minister of State for Work & Housing; Sanusi Garba as Minister of Power; and Dr Isiaka Olayinka Kolawole as Minister of State for Power.
According to the list which was circulated early today, Prof Peter OKebukola is considered for Minister of Education; Sen Sani Bello as Minister of State for Education State; Gen Abdulmalik Jubril (RTD) as Minister of Defence; and Prof Osareimen Osunbor as Minister of State for Defence State.
The contested list also has Fayemi Kayode as Minister of Foreign Affairs; Alhaji Lawan Ya’ u Ron as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs State; Dr Bankole A Johnson as Minister of Health; and Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu as Minister of State for Health.
Abdullahi Gandujeis in the list as Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development; Sen Ita Enang as Minister of State for Agriculture; Simon Lalong as Minister of Transportation; and D Kekemeke as Minister of State for Transportation State.
There is also Nyesome Wike speculated as Minister of Police Affair; Kabiru Marafa as Minister of State for Police Affair State; Nasril El Rufai as Minister of Interior ; Prince Alex Mbata as Minister of State for Interior; Sen Chimaroke Nnamani as Minister of Science & Technology; and Alhaji Modu Musa as Minister of State for Science & Technology .
According tom the list which is still being studied in the political space, Festus Keyamu is appointed as Minister of Labour & Productivity; Mohammed Hassan as Minister of Labour & Productivity State; David Sabo Kente as Minister of Budget & National Planning; and Abike Dabiri as Minister of State for Budget & National Planning State.
There are also Andy Uba as Minister of Special Duties; Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo as Minister of State for Specail Duties State; Gboyega Oyetola as Minister of Trade & Investment; Alhaji Haddy Ametuo as Minister of State for Trade & Investment State; Sen Martin Elechi as Minister of Commerce & Industry; and Steven Lawani as Minister of State for Commerce & Industry State.
Minister of Solid Minerial Development is speculated to be Sen Teslim Folarin; Jamil Isiyaku Gwamna is listed as Minister of State for Solid Mineral Development; Ben Ayade as Minister of Environment ; and Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba as Minister of State for Environment.
Also in the contentious list are Tanko Al-malkura who is listed as Minister of FCT; Hon Zaphania Jisalo as Minister of State FCT; Dr Ibrahim Salau as Minister of Aviation; Muntari Lawal as Minister of State for Aviation; Sadique Abubakar as Minister of Water Resource; and Sen Ifeanyi Ararume as Minister of State for Water Resource.
In the list are also David Lyon as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Gbenga Edema as Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs; Aishatu Binani as Minister of Women Affair; Betta Edu as Minister of State for Women Affair State; Barr Bello Mohammed Goronyo as Minister of Youth & Sport Development; and Jay Jay Okocha as Minister of State for Youth & Sport Development.
The list which captured the full sphere of constitutional coverage for political appointment into the Federal Executive Council also has Bello Matawalle as Minister of Mine & Steel Development; Magnus Abe as Minister of State for Mine & Steel Development; Bayo Onanuga as Minister of Information; Abdulmumin Jibrin as Minister of State for Information; Ikechi Emenike as Minister of Communication & Digital Technology; and Eng Ahmed Yusuf as Minister of State for Communication & Digital Technology.
And then there are also Abubakar Badaru as Minister of Tourism , Culture & Art; Jide Kosoko as Minister of State for Tourism, Culture & Arts; Alhaji Adamu Dibal as Minister of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster management & Social Development; and Sen M Okadigbo for Ministry of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster management & Social Development.
Enquiries by The Oracle Today showed that whereas there are string bases for speculation and even authenticity of some of the political appointees in the list which was released by unofficial sources yesterday, industry technocrats such as Austin Avuru operate beyond the focal strength of political lenses.
Mr Avuru, who is one of Nigeria’s brightest petroleum industry stalwarts, told our correspondents that he could not confirm the list, speculating that it could be fake.
The president’s spokesman told State House correspondents to be very cautious of many ministerial lists flying around until one f them is officially announced by the president.
Pundits agree that the appointments represent a strategic selection of individuals from diverse backgrounds and states, aiming to bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their respective roles. The strategic spread of the names in the lists as well as the match in industry prominence gave authenticity to the list which, analysts consider coming late if the new president would deviate from his predecessor who took nearly a year to form his cabinet.
One of the prominent official of the Nigerian organized private sector told The Oracle Today that the list represents a good mix of party loyalists and industry technocrats, suggesting that there could still be some credibility in the list.
