The Presidency may have begun the search for the replacement
of suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir
David Lawal.
Two ministers, two senators, and four others are reportedly
top on the list of those being considered, it was gathered.
There were indications that the Presidency may have
fore-closed the return of Lawal and the Director-General of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayo Oke, to their offices.
It was gathered that the new SGF might assume more roles, as
it was during the tenure of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The President is said to be considering a reduction of the
workload of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, by devolving more schedules
to the new SGF.
The horse-trading to succeed SGF Lawal may have started in
earnest.
It was learnt that three geopolitical zones may produce the
next SGF, depending on the disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The zones are North-East (seeking the retention of the
office), the North-Central and the South-East.
But the real battle for the slot is between the North-East and
the North-Central.
Those being recommended from the North-Central are Minister
of Agriculture Audu Ogbe (based on performance in office); Senators George
Akume and Barnabas Gemade.
From the Northeast are a yet-to-be-named Minister, a former
Ambassador to Botswana, Hajiya Fatima Balla-Abubakar, a former Minister of
Labour and Productivity, Sen. Joel Ikenya, and an architect.
It was learnt that the name of the Minister of Science and
Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu kept recurring but it was unclear if the Presidency
would give the slot to the Southeast less than two years after the exit
of former SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim.
A source said: “The battle for SGF Lawal’s job is also
assuming a religious dimension, with Christians demanding the replacement of
the suspended occupant with another Christian.
“But the President pays more attention to merit and
capacity than religious or ethnic colouration.”
“Buhari might strengthen the office of the SGF in order to
reduce the heavy workload on the Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari who is doing
a lot now. There are some schedules which ordinarily ought not to be handled by
the Chief of Staff but since such matters demand trust, the President saddles
him with them,” the source said.
“He spoke of a plan to restore the Office to the era of Sir
Ufot Ekaette under the administration of ex-President Obasanjo. (The Nation)
This story was first published on
The SUN
