President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle, which included the removal of five Ministers and the appointment of seven new ones awaiting Senate confirmation, has drawn mixed reactions across Nigeria.
The re-organisation eliminated the Ministry of Sports Development, transferring its duties to the National Sports Commission, and replaced the Ministry of Niger-Delta Development with the Ministry of Regional Development, aimed at streamlining resources across various regional Commissions.
Criticism arose regarding Tinubu’s decision to retain Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, despite accusations linking him to banditry in Zamfara State, which Matawalle denies.
Some prominent Nigerians, such as former spokesperson for Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, argue that these allegations warrant a thorough investigation.
Speaking on a television programme on Thursday, Akande said that there is no justification for Matawalle to be retained as minister in the face of the allegations of his involvement with bandits. Recall that Matawalle is a former governor of Zamfara State, one of the North-West States most terrorised by bandits.
According to Akande, “I would think the President has barely just done more than 50 percent to meet expectations; but I think he should have gone further”.
Additionally, Austin Aigbe, from the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network, questioned Tinubu’s role as Minister of Petroleum. Aigbe suggested the appointment of a dedicated Petroleum Minister to improve the sector’s performance, arguing that a president should not also hold a ministerial portfolio.
