2015: Jonathan under pressure to constitute 'election cabinet'

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently under pressure from his close aides and associates to sack some ministers and bring on board those believed to have political value in their states. Their argument is that in the event that the President decides to seek re- election in 2015, many of the current ministers do not have the required political clout to deliver their states. A top presidency source told one of our correspondents on Tuesday that Jonathan's close aides had advised him many times on the need to constitute what they described as "election cabinet." Such a cabinet, according to him, will comprise mostly people who will be proud to defend the President whenever he is being criticised. He said a situation where ministers would sit on the fence when the President and the government were being criticised did not depict a cabinet that Jonathan should have during elections. The source added that the pressure on the President became more intense with the open confrontation five northern state governors have had with Jonathan. He said, "We have told the President on several occasions that he needs to constitute what we call an election cabinet. He cannot go into election with this cabinet as currently constituted. We have told him this and proved it to him several times. "How can you call yourself a minister and you will hear people talking ill of your principal and attacking the government you are serving and you will decide to be indifferent? There are some current ministers that will not even sit on the fence when the President is being criticised, they will join the critics. "We have told Mr. President that this must not continue. If you think you cannot stick out your neck for a government that has given you an opportunity, the honourable thing to do is to resign; failure of which you can be shown the way out." The source said although the President had been reluctant to take heed of the advice, he might soon be left with no other option since he could not continue to inconvenience himself on the altar of friendship. He said since vacancies in the Federal Executive Council had increased with the sacking of Inuwa Abdulkadir as the minister of Youth Development, the President might have no choice but to yield to the pressure. Abdulkadir's exit brought the number of vacant ministerial positions to three. Former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru, was sacked in June last year while former Minister of State, Health, Dr. Muhammed Pate, resigned on July 24. A Presidency source said Jonathan might dissolve his cabinet in October to create opportunities for people with competence to take over strategic ministries. Although it was stated that some of the ministers might be retained, several others had been shortlisted for sacking. It was gathered that several ministers loyal to political enemies of the President would certainly lose their jobs. It was further learnt that some ministers, who have governorship ambitions, would be relieved of their appointments to give them the opportunity to face their political careers. The Presidency source stated, "The President would make far-reaching changes in his cabinet before or on October 1, 2013. He is even thinking of dissolving the whole cabinet. "I can assure you that several of the ministers are going. There are some who would resign to pursue their political ambitions, while there are others who are disloyal and those who have performed below expectations. 'The President cannot afford to keep people who can derail his programme as we move towards next year." When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said he was not aware of such pressure on the President. "Honestly, I don't know. I am not aware of such pressure," he said.