No plan to fire ministers, Jonathan says

The Presidency yesterday said there was no immediate plan to reshuffle the Federal cabinet, contrary to media reports that said about 10 ministers may be fired by the end of the month.Reports suggest that President Goodluck Jonathan sent several names to the security agencies for clearance for ministerial appointments. At least 10 ministers were named to be among those likely to lose their positions in an impending cabinet shakeup.'Contrary to recent speculations in the media about a so-called impending cabinet reshuffle, the Presidency wishes to state emphatically that there is no truth whatsoever in the said reports,' Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati yesterday said in a statement yesterday.He said Jonathan was satisfied with the performance of his ministers and so has no intension of sacking any of them.'President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has implicit confidence in the ability of the current crop of ministers to deliver and has no plan to undertake any replacement at the moment.'There is also no truth in the alleged tension among ministers as a result of the rumoured imminent cabinet change. This is a calculated attempt to cause disaffection within the cabinet and divert the attention of members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from their unwavering commitment to the implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan Administration.'The speculation about cabinet change is the handiwork of mischief makers who seem bent on frustrating the good intentions of the Federal Government to deliver on the campaign promises of President Jonathan.'We advise the public to ignore the antics of these mischief makers.'A newspaper report on Monday said those undergoing security clearance for ministerial appointments were former PTDF head Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar (aka Mai Rago), Senator Mohammed Abba Aji, former acting PDP chairman Abubakar Baraje, former PDP chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo, former PDP publicity secretary Rufai Alkali, former Anambra governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former PDP organising secretary Uche Secondus, former PDP legal adviser Olusola Oke, former Imo deputy governor Ada Okwuonu and former Presidential adviser Timi Alaibe.On Tuesday, Daily Trust reported that ministers from the same states of origin or zone as the new nominees are likely to be dropped from the cabinet. They include petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, FCT minister Bala Mohammed, Environment minister Hadiza Mailafia and Lands minister Amal Pepple.
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