By Abdullahi Mohammed, Abuja
The Minister of Information and Culture Mr Lai Mohammed said Wednesday that it is only President Muhammadu Buhari that would decide the fate of ministers who made u-turn on their political ambitions ahead of the primary elections.
The minister said this while responding to questions from State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The minister said he would confirm from the President the status of the returning ministers, on whether or not they have been reabsorbed into the cabinet.
“The other question about ministers returning or not going, I think you need to give me more time so that I can tell you exactly what the situation is. Right now, I need to cross check. I need to confirm again from Mr President what the situation is. You see the final decision on who is going, who’s coming back, who’s not going lies with Mr. President,” he said.
Two of the ministers who had indicated interest in vying for elective positions in 2023 general elections Wednesday showed up for the weekly Federal Executive council (FEC) meeting.They are the Attorney-General pf the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Women Affairs Minister Mrs Paulline Tallen.The president last week Friday bade farewell to 10 members of the Federal Executive Council at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Before the commencement of the meeting, a minute silence was observed in honour of the former Minister of Communications Mr Olawole Adeniji Ige, who died at 83.
Those physically in attendance at the FEC meeting are the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan; and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (retd).
Other Ministers who are also in attendance are the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed; Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Mohammed Musa Bello; Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Pantami; Minister of Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.Others include Minister of State for Health, Mr Olorunimbe Mamora; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Me Mustapha Baba Shehuri; and the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba.