Jonathan names Gasau, Obanikoro, Boni Haruna as ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday announced the nomination of  former National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau; former Lagos Senator, Musiliu Obanikoro; and former Adamawa State governor, Boni Haruna, as ministers.

The three men were included in the list of 12 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Other nominees include current Nigerian Ambassador to China, Aminu Wali (from Kano State), and former leader of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Wakil from Borno.

Mr. Gusau is expected to fill the position of Defence Minister, a position currently vacant with the ministry being supervised by Information Minister, Labaran Maku.

Jonathan sent two letters to the Senate, seeking its confirmation of 12 ministerial nominees, as well as the consideration and approval of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and three other service chiefs.

Senate President, David Mark, read out the list of the ministerial nominees, as contained in a letter dated January 20, 2014, but which he received from Jonathan shortly before the commencement of plenary session.

Those on the list included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos); Aminu Wali and Hadjia Jamila Salik (Kano); Mrs Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna); Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom); Honourable Mohammed Wakil (Borno); and Abdul Jelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Osun).

Others were Dr Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto); Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers); Mrs Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger); General Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara) and Mr Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

Danagogo, a former Commissioner for Urban Development in Rivers State, left the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in a controversial move late 2013.

He was reported to have told members of PDP at Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, that he remained a member of PDP, adding that he was more confortable in PDP than joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Amaechi.

President Jonathan, in the letter to the Senate, said he sent the list to the Senate in compliance with the provisions of Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

In his second letter, the president also asked the Senate to confirm for immediate appointment Air Marshal Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff;  Major General Kenneth Minimah as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu as Chief of Air Staff.