In an article titled "Baba Go Slow", International news magazine,
The Economist,
praised President Buhari's ministerial nominees, saying they are all
practical, energetic and mostly of good reputation. Read the full
article below
Muhammad Buhari has earned the nickname “Baba Go Slow” from fellow
Nigerians, for he has taken his time out of the blocks. The former
military ruler, who won elections in March after promising to root out
corruption, has governed alone ever since taking office in May. He said
he would appoint a cabinet by the end of September.
Yet as the deadline passed he had named only one
minister, for oil. And he did not have to look far to find the
candidate—he picked himself. This week, at last, Nigerians were given
his nominees, but not their positions in his cabinet.
Finding a clean team in one of the most corrupt nations on earth is not
easy, but Mr Buhari has tried. His choices are practical, energetic and
of (mostly) good reputation. They include Babatunde Fashola, an
ex-lawyer known for sprucing up Lagos, one of Africa’s most unruly
cities, and Kayode Fayemi, the radical former head of Ekiti state. Few
of the other candidates are household names, but given the track record
of the politicians who ruled for the past 16 years that is no bad thing.
Nigerians do not mind having waited. In the time they have been
twiddling their thumbs, they have noted a “Buhari effect” whereby the
nation has been terrified into better order. Power supplies have
improved, leaving them in darkness less often. Oil refineries are
working better too. Frayed diplomatic relations are being restored and
stolen money is being hunted down.
Days before the nominees were announced, the former oil minister,
Diezani Alison-Madueke, was arrested in London with £27,000 in cash. She
denies charges of money laundering, yet oil theft increased under her
watch. For many Nigerians, her extravagant displays of jewellery and
chartering of private jets epitomised all that was wrong with the old
cadre of politicians.
After four months alone at the helm, Mr Buhari is yet to spell out
policies for the economy and oil industry. The Senate must screen the
president’s selections and further choices must be made. Mr Buhari named
only 21 candidates of a total of 36. He promises the rest soon. True to
form, he is in no rush.
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