Reasons For President Buhari's Ministerial Delay

Clearing the air on the controversy why the President is yet to hit the ground running at least unveiling the ministerial nominees, a Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, called on Nigerians to give the new president time. As these were the reasons for the delay when speaking with SarahaTV. He recalled that after the 2011 elections, many South-West governors took several months to form their governments.

He said that the President did say he would hit the ground running, but he has not been given the chance to hit the ground running because:
1. Failure of the past Administration-the Jonathan administration to deliver the handover notes until two or three days to the inauguration, meaning that these handover notes were submitted at a time when everyone had been consumed by (inauguration) activities.

“Unfortunately, there was no time to look at them until after the President had been inaugurated. The President was left in the dark. He had to understand what the situation was and what was on the ground. That was why he set up a different transition committee. It was only this week that the committee, led by Dr. Ahmed Joga, scrutinised the handover notes and handed over the report to him (Buhari).

“To be fair to him, he would have hit the ground running if the previous government had handed over the notes early.

2. Failure by the past administration to corporate with the Buhari Transition committee. "The Jonathan government did not even permit any minister to interact in any way with the Buhari Transition Committee. Evidently, we had our hands tied behind our backs until we took over. Thus, there is nothing shady about it.”

Shehu explained that the ministerial appointments was yet to be made because the committee needed to conclude its findings on 800-page report which was presented to Buhari on Friday.

Political Opinion: This is Laxity Not Blaming

Politics is about space and opportunity. When you don't take space, another shall take it. Senate President Bukola saw the space left vacant by the other house members especially APC fractions who are loyal to the Party authority "powers that be" and therefore he took advantage. APC members should have seen this coming because Bukola Saraki made it clear from the beginning. Come to think of it, what if all the members obeyed and went for the so called meeting scheduled on the same day and almost the same time of the NASS election & inauguration and PDP decides to play hard politics on them. Obviously , they would loss it all and rant the way they are ranting now. You don't take anything or anyone for granted believing you are in charge. I advice APC party to bring their head down & eyes to where it all started, the different blocks, different interests and how to reconcile them. If they start this early rejecting hand shakes, holding separate contracting press conferences then their peacook parade will certainly not last. There is called "hit the running" Nigerians are yet to feel that. Nigerians at this critical moment need democratic governance and not party politics. We don't need political maradonas and mandelas with good moves and great speech but can't score for the nation or even liberate Nigerians from all sectoral wrecks. Thank you fellow Nigerians and our leaders please resume duties.