The Race for the Defence Minister Portfolio Begins

Following Friday’s sacking of Dr. Haliru Bello, an intense jostling for the portfolio has commenced in the corridors of power.

Investigations on Sunday by our correspondents indicated that the lobby had polarised the Presidency as some of the loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan were urging him not to appoint another northerner into the sensitive office.

This is, however, against the advice of some, who are saying that a competent hand should be picked from any of the six geo-political zones of the country.

“They are saying that the President had hitherto removed a southerner as the Inspector General of Police (Mr. Ogbonna Onovo) and appointed a northerner (Hafiz Ringim) as his replacement. Ringim was succeeded by another northerner, Mohammed Abubakar.

“They also said he had removed Azazi and replaced him with another northerner. The police are strategic; the office of the NSA is also strategic. Therefore, the President ought to appoint a southerner as replacement for Bello to balance the equation.”

However, it was gathered that the North insisted that the exigencies of the present period demanded the retention of the post in the region.

Meanwhile, socio-ethnic groups on Sunday cautioned the President on security appointments.

The National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, Mr. Robinson Esitei, warned Jonathan against Boko Haram’s infiltration into the Presidential Guard. Esitei said that the President had the powers to appoint any Nigerian into the position of the NSA.

He however warned Jonathan to be very careful in appointing people to that position in order not to create the opportunity for the Boko Haram to infiltrate the Presidential Guards.

Monday Punch