APC Leaders: We’re in the Dark over Ministerial Appointments

 National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun

• Presidential Source: Buhari has now agreed to carry them along

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

Amidst mixed feelings trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent perceived skewed appointments, some members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have raised the alarm that the party leaders are in the ‘’dark’’ over the president’s ongoing process to appoint his ministers this month.

The president had promised to appoint his ministers this month and by the nation’s constitution, he is expected to appoint a minister each from the 36 states of the federation.

And the presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, gave an indication on Thursday that Buhari would keep to his promise to inaugurate members of his cabinet this month.

‘’The president has not said anything contrary to his earlier statement to appoint his ministers this month. And barring any unforeseen circumstance, he will keep to his promise,” the presidential spokesman told THISDAY.

Although the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, told THISDAY in an exclusive interview recently that the leadership of his party would henceforth insist on ‘’party’s supremacy’’ and be fully involved in subsequent appointments by the president,  some leaders of the party however said there was nothing to suggest that the party is being carried along.

‘’We read in the newspapers like every other Nigerian that President Muhammadu Buhari promised to appoint his ministers this month of September. But we, the leaders of the party are in the dark over the process; the president is not talking to us,”  a member of the NWC of the party who pleaded anonymity told THISDAY last night.

The APC chieftain warned that the president may have difficulty getting his ministers confirmed by the Senate if leaders of the party are not carried along.

‘’I am sure the president knows the huge political implications of not carrying leaders of our party along in his ongoing efforts to appoint his ministers. I can tell you confidently that the ministerial list will not pass through the Senate,” the APC source added.

A former governor in one of the northern states and now senator also told THISDAY that ‘’the president would be signing the death warrant of the APC if he choses not to carry the party along in his appointment of minsters.

However, a presidential source told THISDAY that though President Buhari once indicated his desire to solely appoint his ministers, that position has since changed.

‘’Yes, the president once turned down the governors’ nominees for the ministerial positions. But I was in a meeting recently when governors and leaders of the APC met with the president and he promised to carry them along in the process,” the presidential source stated.

The source further told THISDAY that even though the governors and other party leaders would be allowed to nominate their candidates, ‘’the nomination will  finally be cleared by the president because there are many members of the APC who worked against the party during the last general election.’’

While reacting to the different criticisms that trailed Buhari’s appointments of his personal aides recently, Oyegun said: ‘’Even though we were marginally involved in those appointments, the party will henceforth be fully involved in  subsequent appointments. That is where the supremacy of the party will come to bear.

Nigerians should exercise a little patience. There will be board appointments, ministerial positions and a lot of other positions.’’