Nearly Two Months After Inauguration, Buhari Asks For More Time to Constitute Cabinet

20 weeks after he was announced winner of the February 23 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and nearly two months after his inauguration for a second term in office, President Muhammadu Buhari has asked for more time to constitute his cabinet.

Buhari, according to sources at Thursday’s closed door dinner with the leadership of the National Assembly at the State House, said he wants to appoint only people he personally knows this time unlike his first tenure where most of the appointees were nominated by party leaders and some individuals.

“Many at this dinner meeting are saying they want to see the list of the proposed cabinet so that they can go on leave peacefully.

“I’m very much aware about it; I’m under tremendous pressure on it. But the last cabinet which I headed, most of them, the majority of them I didn’t know them. I had to accept the names and recommendations from the party and other individuals.

“I worked with them for three and half years at least – meeting twice or two weeks in a month. So I know them.

“But, this time around I’m going to be quite me, me in the sense that I will pick people I personally know” Buhari was quoted to have said.

At the dinner were the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Abdullahi Yahaya – Majority Leader, Ajayi Borofice – Deputy Leader, Orji Uzor Kalu – Chief Whip and Sabi Abdullahi – Deputy Chief Whip.

Others were Emmanuel Bwacha, Deputy Minority leader, Phillip Aduda- Minority Whip, Sabi Wau, Deputy Minority Whips. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Majority leader, House of Representatives, Ndudi Godwin Elumelu – Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu – Deputy Minority Leader. and Nkeiru Onyejocha, Deputy Whip.