Ministerial slot: Five prominent Bauchi politicians in consideration
By Babagana Jidda Kanempress
9th July 2023
High-ranking members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are pushing to get the ministerial slot for Northeast Bauchi State.
Reports say there are intense lobbying by many politicians as the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to appoint a minister each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to assist him in running the government.
Under the administration of immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, two ministers emerged from Bauchi state.
Many Nigerians for the positions include Retired Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Captain Bala Jibrin, a pioneer internal auditor of the party and former Governor of Bauchi state, Mallam Isa Yuguda.
The lists also include the National Internal auditor of the APC, Senator Abubakar Markafi, a former Chairman of the Education Trust Fund, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees TETFund, Dr. Musa Babayo.
Reports say the move to compensate Abubakar for having worked hard for the party in the state and delivering more than 25 percent votes for President Tinubu in the 2023 elections.
Asides the fact that Abubakar is contesting the result of the election, it is believed the national leadership has a plan B in case he loses again at the tribunal.
Another figure, Babayo, who was the Director of the Planning, Research, and Strategy Directorate of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign organization is believed to be aiming for such position based on his relationship with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Other politicians, Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Transport, Muhammad Ali Pate, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, in February 2023.
He was to take up the top global position on August 3, 2023 and a former Minister of State for Health may also be considered for his antecedents in the health sector.
