President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all his serving ministers seeking elective positions in 2023 general elections to resign before May 16.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure while speaking with State House Correspondents at the Villa, shortly after the Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the president.
Also, the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Digital and New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, on his Twitter Handle, said: “All members of President Buhari’s cabinet vying for public office will have to resign on or before May 16, 2022.”
Emeka Nwajiuba
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has tendered his resignation before President Buhari’s directive.
President Buhari was said to have commended Nwajiuba, who had resigned since April 28, 2022 for taking the initiative to resign before his executive directive to ministers and political appointees.
Nwajuiba’s Special Assistant, Mr. Paul Odili, confirmed his boss’s resignation to newsmen.
He said: “Mr. President gave the directive at today’s (Wednesday) FEC meeting, where he singled out Nwajiuba for commendation. President Buhari said other members of this council seeking to be President should resign with immediate effect.
“The Honourable Minister, on accepting the nomination form on the 27th of April bought for him by his supporters led by an umbrella group, Project Nigeria, wrote the President on the 28th informing him that having accepted the nomination by his supporters to contest the office of the presidency on the party’s platform, that he would like to disengage from office to enable him concentrate on his campaign and to avoid any conflict of interest.
“I can tell you Mr. President immediately accepted his letter of resignation.”
Some of President Buhari’s Ministers indicating interest in elective positions include Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who seeks to be president; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who wants to be Kebbi Stae governor; Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, who seeks to be president but yet to purchase his nomination interest forms.
