Cabinet Reshuffle: Pressure Mounts on Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinus is reported to be under immense pressure as ministers afraid that their names may be among those listed for sack are reaching out to their godfathers and mentors to prevail on him not to ease them out of his cabinet. 

Reliable Presidency sources disclosed that following the announcement that the president would be reshuffling his cabinet, a number of ministers have intensified efforts aimed at lobbying for their names not to be taken off the President’s good books.

They noted however, that the president has made up his mind to do the needful by dropping non-performing ministers as he earlier warned.

They added that some of them, particularly those who are not too sure of where they belong, have, alongside their godfathers, intensified efforts to lobby for their names not to be removed from the list of those to be eased out.

Some, they added, are reaching out to the President’s allies and associates, including the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

“Yes, that is a typical thing. Some of the ministers will be calling their godfathers to influence the President. It is a normal thing. But the President will still do what is on his mind for the country,” one of the aides said.

Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila is said to have expressed concerns over the nature of the lobby which is described as very intense, one that puts enormous pressure on the president.

Explaining further, a source disclosed that Gbajamiala is such that he has counseled the President to go to the UK, a reason why none of those mounting pressure on him were unable to reach for days.

“Since reports filtered out that the President would soon reshuffle his cabinet, he has been under immense pressure from political godfathers and ministers who are afraid that they may be dropped from the cabinet.

“Due to the intense pressure, the CoS had to advise the President to take some days off in the United Kingdom after concluding the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in China two weeks ago.

“Remember that for some days, Nigerians did not know about Tinubu’s whereabouts. After pictures of his meeting with King Charles surfaced online, people started speculating that he went to London for medical checks. The fact is that he was advised to spend a few days to allow the pressure and lobbying to subside.

“Anyway, it is not unusual for politicians to lobby on behalf of their wards but Nigerians are not satisfied with the performance of many of the ministers and the President would have no choice but to let them go. If you are not performing, you have to go, regardless of who your godfather is,” the source volunteered.