Cabinet Reshuffle: Jonathan To sack Allison-Madueke, Others Packing
President Jonathan has penciled down Dieziani Allison-Madueke and a few other ministers perceived to be untouchable for sack in a bid to gain popularity in some stronghold states of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The supposed sack of Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Petroleum Resources and other ministers would be affected in the form of a cabinet reshuffle, according to Bluesprint.
A reliable source privy to the on-goings said the planned reshuffle is part of Jonathan’s “three-prong approach” to win more support as the campaign pulls into the home stretch.
Diezani was described as: “more of a liability than an asset”. “The president is aware that her presence has brought so much ill feeling to his government. The decision to let her go was taken in the first week of February,” the source explained.
The source said: “Two of the planks are already in full throttle; getting the anti-terror campaign to an irreversible point of victory and to throwing himself completely into the ground game.
“The latter has seen the president return to the South-west battle ground repeatedly. The VP is also all over the North.
“The two moves, according to the source, “have put Jonathan’s opponents on notice that he is ready for the battle and the steps have seen his popularity soaring up.
“The third and final leg of the strategic steps being taken by the president is said to be the last minute cabinet shake-up to shave off “the dormant and liability ministers”.
The coming cabinet shakeup by President Jonathan is aimed at laying off ministers otherwise thought to be the untouchables.
Allison-Maduekwe joined the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua government from inception in 2007 as minister of transport. She was appointed to head the petroleum ministry in 2010
Her popularity has plummeted after investigations by Price WaterHouse Coopers revealed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC), could not account for $20 billion oil money her watch. Deziani is also accused of refusing to make the report of the investigation public despite public outcry.
