President Bola Tinubu is facing increasing pressure to appoint former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and human rights activist Shehu Sani to his cabinet.
The call for their inclusion comes from the Mandate Protection Vanguard (MPV), a civil society group advocating for strong and competent leadership in Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued by MPV Coordinator, Gbenga Soloki, the group emphasized the importance of appointing credible individuals with the expertise necessary to help navigate the country’s current economic and social challenges.
Soloki pointed out that while Tinubu has already selected several politicians and allies for ministerial roles, there are several highly qualified Nigerians who have yet to be included.
“We believe Mr. President has made significant choices, but in these difficult times, more needs to be done. There are several other qualified Nigerians who have excelled in both private and public services.
“While some have served at the state level, others have been privileged to operate at the federal level,” Soloki stated.
Nigeria’s economic situation has worsened in recent months, leading to widespread calls for an injection of fresh talent into the federal cabinet.
MPV noted that to address these challenges, Tinubu needs ministers who are not only politically savvy but also experienced in economic matters.
According to the group, the appointments of El-Rufai and Shehu Sani would offer the administration the strong leadership required to address these issues head-on.
“The present economic challenges in the country deserve the services of credible and economically savvy ministers, who can deliver on their core areas of competence to make the programs and projects of the administration popular and to achieve far-reaching results that will ultimately rescue the country out of the present quagmire,” Soloki added.
El-Rufai, who recently served as Kaduna State Governor and previously held the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is widely regarded for his pragmatic governance style.
Known for his reformist approach, El-Rufai spearheaded several initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and tackling insecurity in Kaduna.
Sani, a former senator and renowned civil rights activist, has been a vocal advocate for social justice and democracy in Nigeria. His experience as a lawmaker and his advocacy for marginalized groups have earned him respect across the political spectrum.
His inclusion in Tinubu’s cabinet, MPV argues, would help bridge the gap between the government and ordinary Nigerians.
In addition to advocating for the inclusion of El-Rufai and Sani, MPV also suggested the reappointment of Professor Barth Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, who the group described as an expert in the energy sector.
Nnaji’s tenure as Minister of Power was marked by efforts to reform the electricity sector and increase power generation capacity.
His experience, according to the group, would be valuable as Nigeria continues to struggle with power supply challenges.
