Nigerians are already waiting for the composition of the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu, twenty days into his administration and this development has sparked off intense lobbying and politicking at the state levels which is now tearing members apart, Iwitnesslive reports.
Our correspondent learnt that a crisis is now brewing in the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as two prominent figures fight for the ministerial slot.
The immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employme t Festus Keyamo is seen as the leading candidate but the party candidate in the state’s governorship election Ovie Omo-Agege is also said to be pushing hard for the slot.
Omo-Agege lost the governorship election to Sherrif Obovweri of the Peoples Democratic Party and he is now seeking compensation.
The former lawmaker who was the Deputy Senate President in the 9th Assembly is said to be the soul of APC in the state as he is believed to wield enormous influence within the party and that could count in his favour.
Meanwhile, Keyamo, who was the Spokesman for the Tinubu, Shettima Campaign Council, is believed to have worked assiduously for the emergence of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election and could be rewarded for his efforts.
A source in the state chapter of the party said that “some members of the party believed that Keyamo, having spent eight years in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, should allow other people to go to the centre but in politics, you have to reward loyalty and commitment t. We all agree that Keyamo worked so hard for the victory of Asiwaju in the last election and coupled with the fact that he was never a senior minister during the last dispensation and he is likely going to be upgraded this time.”
Meanwhile, it is a battle of the bigwigs in Ekiti state as former Governors Chief Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi are pushing to get the slot. Both Fayemi and Adebayo have also served as ministers under Buhari.
Chief Niyi Adebayo; National Coordinator of South-West Agenda for Tinubu 2023, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, and the Coordinator of the Tinubu/ Shettima Independent Campaign Council in Ekiti, Prince Akintade Olayisade are also said to be one of the contenders for the sole slot.
However, our correspondent reliably learnt that President Tinubu is likely going for a fresh candidate Makinde Araoye who is believed to have extensive connection with Mr Presient’s men.