NEW CABINET: GO FOR TECHNOCRATS, OKONKWO TELLS JONATHAN

Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure he appoints only credible men and women into his new cabinet. He charged him to bear in mind that Nigerians voted for him rather than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the full expectation that he would deliver dividends of democracy to them.

Speaking to journalists after presiding at the bishopric consecration of the General Overseer of Wordbase Assembly, Dr Humphrey Erumaka, Bishop Okonkwo urged Jonathan not to allow bad party policies to make him appoint wrong people into his new cabinet.'As soon as he is inaugurated, he should hit the ground running. And to do that some party policies may have to be discarded, so he should look for credible people in the country with ideas; proactive, visionary men and women who I know are available for him to use. In this election, people voted for him and not for the party; so he should understand that and put credible technocrats in position,' Okonkwo said.

While acknowledging that Jonathan's intent to have a government of national unity is a good idea, Okonkwo stressed that it should 'not just be for the purpose of appeasing parties. Let it be that he is looking for people who can perform and deliver dividends of democracy to the nation.' He listed the three core needs of Nigerians and urged Jonathan to focus on them, saying that the success of his administration would be determined by his ability to meet them.

'One, he should ensure that our power is stable. The high level of unemployment today is as a result of lack of power supply. Nigerians are very hardworking people, who want to do things for themselves. Two, let the roads be repaired because the deplorable state of the nation's road network makes it difficult for people to have cheap, affordable food in the urban areas. This is affecting the overall economy.

And thirdly, he should ensure that we have good healthcare delivery system,' Okonkwo said.