Oduah, Olubolade, Orubebe, Ngama removed

Those affected were Stella Oduah (Aviation), Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs), Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Affairs) and Yerima Ngama (State for Finance).The president asked them to step down during yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC), which lasted for about four hours.Briefing journalists after the meeting, Maku said Jonathan asked them to quit “because they indicated interests in […]

Those affected were Stella Oduah (Aviation), Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs), Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Affairs) and Yerima Ngama (State for Finance).
The president asked them to step down during yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC), which lasted for about four hours.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Maku said Jonathan asked them to quit “because they indicated interests in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country.”
But it was clear that Ms. Oduah was removed because of her role in the controversial purchase of N255 million bullet-proof cars for her use by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) last year.
She was indicted by the House of Representatives which asked the president to fire her for violating procurement rules, while a presidential inquiry panel turned in a report that has never been made public.
A senior government official hinted Daily Trust that the panel report also found Oduah wanting in the armour cars purchase and therefore recommended her removal.
The other three ministers have been nursing governorship ambitions in their states. Ngama wants to be PDP’s candidate for Yobe State in the 2015 elections, Orubebe is angling for the Delta State governorship seat, while Olubolade is likely to join the Ekiti State guber race scheduled for June 21.
Ms. Oduah from Anambra State has not publicly indicated any interest in running for an elective office.
But Maku insisted yesterday that all the four fired ministers were asked to step down because of their political ambitions or other private plans.
“Today, the president announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council. He (Jonathan) said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the Federal Executive Council to further their own interests, some in politics, others in their own private focuses,” Maku said.
“In announcing their acceptance in their decision to participate in the polity, the president thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done in helping the government realise the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda.”
Asked to clarify if the ministers resigned or were asked to step down, Maku said: “The president said he had asked them to go because of their interests. They have indicated interests in pursuing higher and deeper interests in the polity and so he had decided to allow them to go and pursue those interests.”
On whether Jonathan asked Ms. Oduah to go based on the report of the three-man administrative panel of enquiry he set up to probe the bullet-proof cars purchase, Maku said: “I have just reported exactly what the president said. Also, don’t forget that allegations don’t necessarily mean guilt.”
Asked if more ministers who have political ambitions would be asked to go later on, Maku said: “That is left for the president to decide.”
Maku himself is believed to be planning to run for Nasarawa governor in next year’s election. Other ministers with obvious governorship ambitions are FCT Minister Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Mines Minister Musa Sada (Katsina) and Education Minister Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
Our correspondent reports that Ms. Oduah was absent at yesterday’s FEC meeting, apparently because she was aware that she would be removed.
But Ngama seemed to be caught unawares as he was acknowledging cheers from staff of the State House before he entered the council chamber for the cabinet meeting during which he was told of his removal.
Erstwhile Police Affairs Minister Olubolade stepped out of the FEC meeting about 20 minutes to the end and left the State House quietly.
Pending the appointment of substantive ministers to replace the four who have been fired, Jonathan asked the Minister of State for FCT Olajumoke Akinjide to supervise the Police Affairs Ministry, Minister of State for Trade and Investment Samuel Ortom to supervise the Aviation Ministry, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs Darius Ishaku to take charge of the ministry, while Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would combine her work with that of Ngama.
The removal of the four ministers brings the total existing ministerial vacancies to 14, following the sack last year of 10 ministers.
Jonathan has already nominated replacements for those who left last year, and the Senate yesterday began screening hearings for the ministerial nominees.