…Flood Tinubu’s residence
…Emefiele, Kyari, others panic, seek soft landing
By News Desk
Lest than a month to the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, intense jostling for appointments in the new government have commenced as leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, ministers, outgoing governors, members-elect of the National Assembly, clerics from various faiths, among others have besieged his Asokoro, Abuja home and Defence House in Maitama District of Abuja, where he stays occasionally.
Tinubu returned on Monday afternoon having left in March after his emergence as president-elect in what his media aides explained as ‘deserved rest’ in France and United Kingdom from the campaigns and a scheduled Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia.
A visit to the Defence House, yesterday, by AljazirahNigeria shows a beehive of activities and high vehicular movements in the area. Security agents have also taken over major spots in the area, preventing unwanted visitors from parking vehicles anywhere near the official residence of the President-elect.
It was, however, learnt that the desperation by some of the persons who flooded the Defence House, to lobby for key appointments had earlier seen some of the persons, tracking the President-elect to Saudi Arabia where he was billed for pilgrimage during the Ramadan season.
A source privy to the development told our Correspondent that: “Few days after the announcement of Tinubu’s itinerary, outgoing APC governors, top government officials, pastors, imams, members-elect of the National Assembly, ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, members of APC Presidential Campaign Council, among others, hurriedly proceeded to Saudi Arabia, to lobby the president-elect on appointment to juicy positions. Unfortunately, Tinubu’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia was called off without any reasons by his handlers. Those who had traveled to the Holy Land to wait for Tinubu’s arrival returned to Nigeria disappointed”.
Most of the lobbyists are seeking positions such as CBN, NNPCL, FIRS top jobs, as well as CEOs and board members of federal parastatals, especially those considered to be lucrative like in the Customs, foreign missions, oil, gas, maritime and aviation sectors.,
The top shot in the APC, who said the lobbyists had invested and worked for Tinubu’s victory, said they did not want to leave their dividends to fate.
During the visit to Defence House, top government officials with their retinue of security aides, were seen stranded unable to access the residence of the president-elect.
“They’ve resorted to keeping vigils around the vicinity, hoping to somehow catch-up with Tinubu or his close allies who could help their cause”, said the source that spoke with AljazirahNigeria.
Tinubu is expected to constitute his cabinet before the end of July 2023. The law mandates the President-elect and governors-elect to submit names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State Houses of Assembly.
AljazirahNigeria learnt that there have been serious panic over developments and heads of the agencies whose jobs are at stake are seeking soft landing from the incoming administration.
Some stakeholders maintained that the sack of the CBN and NNPC heads became necessary given the untold hardship and suffering of the masses in the hands of the two ‘unresponsive’ government officials as a result of their error of judgements and misleading advice to the Federal Government.
“Nigerians are now left confused and dehumanized under unbearable and harsh economic conditions as money and fuel suddenly disappeared”, some stakeholders stressed.
Others mentioned the hasty implementation of a cashless policy and sudden disappearance of fuel under the guise of subsidy withdrawal which left much to be desired, saying there is no better time to sack the duo than now. “Nigerians are suffering as a result of their gross incompetence, insensitivities selfish agendas over national interest”.
“As of today, more Nigerians have become vulnerable especially women and children are now more confused and dehumanized in unbearable conditions as money and fuel wickedly disappeared from the public space. Thousands of SMEs closed business owing to bad policies of the CBN Governor and that of his counterpart NNPCL boss, Kyari.
The President-elect may invoke the spirit of section 11 of the CBN Act, 2007 to remove Emefiele because it is now a notorious fact he is incapable of carrying out his duties as chief adviser to the federal government on currency matter.
“There is no better evidence to show that the ongoing suffering of the masses keeping vigil in banks, pay points to withdraw their own hard-earned money or buy fuel.
“More worrisome is the exorbitant charges by PoS operators as they charge members of the public astronomically without check by the regulatory body, CBN, the respondents averred.
In a related development, some analysts had blamed both the Independent and Major Petroleum Marketers for selling their products at cutthroat prices while the NNPC is maintaining undue silence.
“This is a serious infraction on the economic rights of Nigerians who are made to suffer for the consequences of misconduct and incompetence of men put in trust of a position to protect their rights.
“Therefore, Emefiele and Kyari are responsible for this and other economic bites they have inflicted on innocent Nigerians through their respective reckless, malicious and vindictive policies”.
However, the removal of fuel subsidy will not go down well with the incoming government as the Labour Unions and Nigerians would definitely reject it as suffering would increase but many are waiting for the sacking of the CBN and NNPCL CEOs.
