Emerging report reveals that the outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has been tipped to replace the Minister of Power, Works And Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in President Muhammadu Buhari’s new cabinet.
Recall that Buhari’s first tenure ends at midnight on Tuesday, May 28, the same day all ministers are required to leave office.
The source revealed that the President is determined to hit the ground running this time around by forming his cabinet within weeks of his swearing in.
The situation has sparked intense lobbying by party chieftains including Governors and ministers for ministerial slots .
Some outgoing governors, it was gathered, are allegedly working round the clock to replace the current ministers from their various States in the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
The affected governors have reportedly contacted some prominent party leaders to indicate interest in their States’ Ministerial slot and possibly make a case for them at the highest level possible.
“Many of the ministers feel they have done well enough to be given a second chance. Currently, both parties are making moves to corner the ministerial slots of their various States,” the source said.
Continuing, the source added: “The body language of the President is such that nobody can predict where the pendulum will swing. I can tell you that in Lagos State, the outgoing Governor has been tipped to replace the minister from that State. (Fashola).
“In another state in the north, the outgoing governor and the minister are both holding meetings with Party Chieftains to explain why they should be given the state’s ministerial slot to occupy.
“Their ambitions have divided the party as their supporters are now lining up behind their preferred candidates.
“Party leaders in the state recently came out to call for caution over the matter. Both the governor and the minister have also been coming here to lobby party leaders.”
