Speculation about a cabinet reshuffle by the President had reached fever pitch since the beginning of the year, but there has not been any major shakeup although some ministers have swapped positions.
Some of the ministers, including Senator Idris Umar (Transport) and Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs) were sighted at the Presidential Villa yesterday apparently to hold consultations with key confidants of the President.
Although such visits to the Presidential Villa are normal, it was gathered that most of the ministers are not sure of their fate, because of the termination of the appointment of Abdulkadir.
Although, no reason was given for the decision to relieve Abdulkadir of his appointment as a minister, it was, however, gathered that the decision was taken because of his alleged romance with the newly registered Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, a political party believed to have the backing of former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar.
Abdulkadir was said to have given his support to the registration of the PDM and pledged his allegiance to the party and that he had to be sacked to serve as deterrent to other ministers perceived not to be fully loyal to the President.
Inside sources at the Presidency also said that more ministers may go, especially those found to have performed below the expectation of the President.
In the last couple of months, ministers have been presenting reports on the performance of their ministries to the President, which would serve as a basis to measure their achievements National Mirror learnt that nominees of some Northern governors, who are having strain relationships with President Jonathan, may also be asked to go.
Some of the ministers have already shifted their allegiance to the President having dumped the governors that nominated them because of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Also, some ministers, who have governorship ambition, are likely to be affected by the imminent sack.
Meanwhile, former minister Abdulkadir yesterday expressed his appreciation to President Jonathan for the opportunity given to him to serve the nation.
This is even as he advised officials in the ministry to continue to support government policies aimed at exploring the productive capacities of Nigerian youths for national development.
A statement by the Acting Director of Press in the Ministry, Mr. Olusola Abiola, quoted the ex-minister as saying that his tenure afforded him the privilege to contribute his own quota to the development of about 60 million youths in the country
Abdulkadir, who reminisced on his tenure when he handed over to the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, as directed by the President, in Abuja, said the short stint he had in the ministry enabled him to “appreciate greatly the numerous challenges facing the Nigerian youths”.
He also disclosed that he learnt a lot from the seasoned administrators and technocrats in the course of discharging his duties and advised the officials of the ministry to continue to discharge their responsibilities in a manner that will continue to advance the policies of the Federal Government for the sector.
At the brief ceremony which was attended by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, the former minister admonished the officials to always be steadfast as public servants in their service to the nation.
Olaopa thanked the minister for his contributions to the development of the ministry despite his relatively short tenure.
It would be recalled that Abdulkadir was unceremoniously relieved of his appointment on Monday through a scantily worded statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim.
Meanwhile, youth leaders of coalition of civil society organisations and students have commended President Jonathan for sacking Abdulkadir, accusing the former minister of mismanaging the National Youth Council election.
Speaking with National Mirror in Benin, Edo State, leader of the South-South Youth League, Comrade Omobude Agho said the sack may not be unconnected with the minister’s intervention in the electoral process.
He said: “Although the President did not give any reason for sacking the minister, but I can categorically tell you that he (Jonathan) received mountain of petitions from different youth organisations after the minister mismanaged our recent election in which he tried to impose his own candidates on Nigerian youths.
“President Jonathan came into office through a free and fair election and that is what we were expecting when we travelled for the election. Having failed to impose his own candidates on Nigerian youths, we petitioned the Presidency calling for his immediate sack.”
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