Blog

By Kingsley Omonobi

* As petitions flood Aso Rock, contract inflation, money laundering, misappropriation of funds cited

Indications emerged in Abuja yesterday that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has barred all ministers of the just dissolved executive council of the federation from travelling out of the country in the next one month.

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The restriction is to ensure that the ex-ministers would be available to provide answers to possible questions concerning their ministries as the nation awaits appointment of new ministers. Consequently, the ex-ministers have been told to make their movements within the country known to appropriate authorities and no ex-minister must travel outside the country within the period..

Presidency sources said the decision to bar the ministers from travelling out of the country was not unconnected with petitions that had started flooding the Presidential villa over the sins committed by many of the ministers while in office, particularly as it concerned contract inflation, money laundering, misappropriation of funds and other unimaginable deeds.

As a result, the source said that the federal government panel inaugurated by Acting President Jonathan last month, has been given the go-ahead to move into the ministries now that there are no stumbling blocks to examine the petitions so far received, adding that from all indications, some of the ministers may be made to face anti-corruption charges if found wanting.

It was gathered that some ministers, particularly those said to have been directly in charge of Power, Agriculture, Aviation and Water and Petroleum Resources, are said to be on the front list because of the volume of petitions regarding their conduct while at the helm of affairs of the ministries.

It was further gathered that security agencies, especially those saddled with security at the various exit outlets of the nation, have been intimated of the federal government directive and urged them to ‘politely turn back’ any of such minister that may claim ignorance and wanted to travel.

Jonathan bars ministers (AKUNYILI) from making public comments

"WHAT IS THIS ACTING PRESIDENTS PROBLEM does he not know that this script is for real and not some kind of movie where he is acting president ! Your Goodluck will soon Run out Plus Your goodwill IF You continue to play to the GALLERY !

Jonathan Was never King I am begining to think we need a David ! "

Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the movie Airport Drama

Also, regional or group meetings of ministers, which flourished since cracks appeared in the cabinet, have been outlawed.

The order was handed out at the FEC meeting by Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday.

However, Jonathan told the ministers that if it became imperative for any of them to make a public statement, then his approval must be secured, a source in the Presidency told our correspondent.

The directive came against the background of concern expressed by governors on Tuesday in Abuja over public utterances of the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in which she criticised the cloud of secrecy in the Presidency concerning President Umaru Yar'Adua's health.

Akunyili had in an interview granted many newspapers on Sunday claimed that a cabal existed in the corridors power.

According to her, the cabal's hold on government must be broken if the secrecy around the President's health should become a thing of the past.

Also, Jonathan frowned on regional or group meetings of ministers, which seemed to have characterised Yar'Adua's 93-day medical sojourn in Saudi Arabia .

According to Presidency sources, the ministers tended to confer along the North and South divide.

The most noticeable members of the ministerial cliques were the Minister of Special Duties, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa; Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Sayyadi Abba-Ruma; and Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu.

Before Jonathan entered the Council chambers for the FEC meeting, a Presidency source said the ministers were jittery, following an earlier information that he would dissolve the cabinet.

But the Acting President had a last-minute change of mind on the dissolution.

He reportedly told the ministers that he had suspended the idea and enjoined them to face their jobs squarely and avoid divisive tendencies.

"At the FEC meeting, the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ordered ministers to stop making public statements.

"He also warned against regional or group meetings of ministers, which was the rule rather than the exception during President Umaru Yar'Adua's absence.

"Henceforth, ministers wishing to make any public statement must get clearance from the Acting President.

"The order was given because of comments of some ministers that were thought to be heating up the polity. Again, he told the ministers that cabinet dissolution had been put on hold.

"He seems to have gauged the political temperature and realised that such a measure now would have fractious consequences on the Presidency."

Despite Jonathan's assurance to the ministers, a cabinet source said the feeling that their days were numbered pervaded the Council chambers.

Besides Akunyili's memo to FEC on the need for Yar'Adua to comply with Section 145 of the constitution, which attracted an unusual focus on the FEC, Aondoakaa's unguarded attacks on her dragged the cabinet in the mud.

Aondoakaa has since apologised to Akunyili.