Presidency still shopping for new defence minister - any ideas?

Indications emerged at the weekend that the Presidency is still undecided on which geo-political zone to appoint as replacement for the recently sacked Minister of Defence, Dr. Hilaru Bello Mohammed. Impeccable source at the Presidency revealed that political hawks and stakeholders from the six geo-political zones had continued to mount pressure on the President to have their candidate nominated and sent to the National Assembly for ratification and approval.

But sources said the President was weighing the option of producing the next defence minister from a zone that had not been fully represented at the national level to ensure equity and sense of belonging. It was said that Mr. President had ruled out the North-central zone which produced the Senate President, David Mark, North-west zone, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar come from despite intense pressure.

It was informed that the President had equally ruled out the South-east zone which had produced Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as well as the Deputy Speaker. Feelers from the Aso Rock villa also revealed that Mr. President might not be considering the South-south geo-political zone which produced him, the petroleum resources minister and other key political office holders.

However, it was also reliably gathered that the pendulum might be swinging in favour of the South-west geo-political zone, which was said not have full and commensurate representation since the inception of this administration. It was contended that the South-west had only produced the police affairs minister, commerce and investment minister and the majority leader in the House of Representatives.

It was reliably gathered that the idea of suggesting the South-west geo political zone    to produce the next minister was predicated on this administration’s resolve to balance and evenly distribute key appointments

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