No fewer than 32 chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State are jostling to replace the sacked Minister of Power, Sale Mamman.
President Muhammadu Buhari had early this month sacked two of his ministers, Mamman (Power) and Mohammed Sabo Nanono (Agriculture) over what the presidency tagged as poor performance.
According to a report by Daily Trust, Top politicians have commenced intense lobbying in Taraba and Kano states where the two sacked ministers hailed from. Mamman hails from Taraba State, and Nanono from Kano State.
Expectations are high that the president will send the replacement of the two former ministers to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with the 1999 Constitution. The Senate is resuming today from its annual recess.
Speaking to our correspondent, chairman of the APC in Taraba State, Barr Ibrahim El-Sudi confirmed that 32 members of the party are eying the ministerial position.
He said nobody has contacted the party for the nomination of Mamman’s replacement. El-Sudi did not mention the names of those eying the seat but said the state deserves the seat in view of its contribution to the Buhari presidency.
“Taraba gave President Buhari more than 45 per cent votes during the last presidential election, therefore, under any political consideration, the state deserves a slot and it should be a cabinet minister,” he said.
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However, sources in the party hinted that two former acting governors of the state, Alhaji Garba Umar and Sani Danladi Abubakar are among those eyeing the ministerial appointment.
Also listed are Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (APC, Taraba Central), a former Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo, a former commissioner of Finance and one-time governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf and a two-time governorship candidate and now a commissioner in the Northeast Development Commission, Chief David Kente, among others.
It was learnt that most of those eying the position have relocated to Abuja to be near the powers close to the presidential villa, Abuja.