It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed new Ministers to replace former cabinet members who resigned to pursue their 2023 electio ambitions.
Their appointment, which is subject to the confirmation of the senate, was announced on Tuesday.
The electoral act as amended stipulates the resignation of those eyeing elective offices while in government.
A total of 10 Ministers had indicated interest in the 2023 elections, but while four dropped their ambitions in order not to resign, six stepped down and contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
They included the then Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajiuba and Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Tayo Alasoadura.
In the piece below, we did a brief highlight of those who replaced the former Ministers.
UMANA OKON UMANA
Umana served as Secretary to the State Government when Godswill Akpabio was governor of Akwa Ibom State. Incidentally, the Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), is now replacing Akpabio in the federal cabinet. He was governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State during the 2015 election, which was won by incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel.
HENRY IKECHUKWU IKO
Ikoh served as Commissioner for Industry in the cabinet of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Recently, he announced his intention to represent Abia Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but he later opted out.
GOODLUCK NNNA OPIA
Opia is an ex-Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, and former representative of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West in the Federal House of Representative. He represented Ohaji/Egbema constituency in the Imo House of Assembly from 2003 to 2011. He is currently the Special Adviser/Coordinator to the Imo state Governor on Oil and Gas matters. If confirmed by the senate, Opia will replace Emeka Nwaijuba, former Minister of State for Education.
UMAR IBRAHIM EL-YAKUB
Prior to his nomination, El-Yakubu was Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives). He represented Kano Municipal in the lower chamber of the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007. He took over the seat from Ghali Umar Na’Ábba, former Speaker of the House of Reps.
ODUM UDI
Udi was the Chairman of Abua Odua Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State when Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, was governor of Rivers. Amaechi, who governed Rivers between 2007 and 2015, was appointed into Buhari’s cabinet in 2015. He was one of the ministers who were reappointed in 2019. Earlier this year, Amaechi resigned to pursue his presidential ambition. However, he lost the APC ticket to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos.
First published in Daily Trust