17 October 2012, Sweetcrude, Enugu – There is growing concern in Enugu state among those jostling to replace former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, that President Goodluck Jonathan may look elsewhere for the replacement.
Report indicates that President Jonathan, has been in serious search of a replacement for Nnaji, who resigned the position last August and in line with routine practice, the new Minister of Power should still come from Enugu State.
However, it was gathered that Jonathan has not been satisfied with the calibre of candidates presented so far by the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime and may have to pick the new Minister of Power from any other State.
Indications are that the prediction may have to carry out a cabinet reshuffle, should he pick another State in order to ensure that Enugu state is still represented in the Federal Executive Council, in the spirit of the Federal character principle.
Sources close to the Presidency and government house, Enugu, report that, besides Sullivan’s candidates not meeting Jonathan’s expectations, there have been strong oppositions among stakeholders against the nominees.
The same sources gave the names of the nominees to include the State Chairman of the PDP in the State, Mr Vita Abba, who is also Pro-Chancellor of Fed. University of Tech., Owerri, President of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr. Mrs Sally Adukwu Bolujoko and the State Commissioner for Lands, Dr Emeka Ujam.
Chime, who is currently on 6 weeks vacation abroad, was said to have forwarded the names to Mr President shortly before his travel, adding that he (the governor) had drawn up the list without consulting some big wigs in the state politics, like the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim is said to be making a case for one Mr Ferdinand Agu, whom Chime, initially opposed but soft-pedalled when he realised Agu hails from Udi his hometown.
However it has been learnt that President Jonathan has not been favourably disposed to any of the names, including Agu, (SGF’S candidate) as, according to the source, the Minister of State Mr Dahus Isbaku, is also an architect like Agu-which combination the President cannot accept.