Ministerial nominees

Aisha Al-Hassan

Popularly known as Mama Taraba, Al-Hassan is known for almost becoming the first elected female governor in Nigeria. She was defeated in the last Taraba governorship election by the incumbent governor, Darius Ishiaku, of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Al-Hassan, who is currently contesting the election result at the tribunal, has said she will not dump her case because of her ministerial nomination. The former Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice became a senator in 2011 on the platform of the PDP.

Abubakar Malami

Malami was a governorship aspirant in Kebbi State last year. He was, however, defeated at the APC primary to Atiku Bagudu. The senior advocate was the national legal adviser of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change.

He also headed Buhari’s legal team in 2011 when Buhari dragged the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over the result of the 2011 presidential election which was won by Goodluck Jonathan. This is probably why he is very close to the President.

The 48-year-old was said to have also played an active role in drafting the constitution of the All Progressives Congress. Apart from being a lawyer, he also has a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Chris Ngige

Should Ngige be confirmed by the Senate next week, he will be one of the few Nigerians privileged to have served as a governor, senator and minister. The 63-year-old medical doctor became governor of Anambra State in 2003. He was, however, removed by the Court of Appeal in 2005 and Peter Obi of the All Progressive Grand Alliance became the governor.

Ngige was described as an achiever by many in Anambra. When he fell out with his political godfather, Chris Uba, in 2004, Ngige was said to have been dragged by Uba to the infamous Okija Shrine to swear an oath of loyalty. Ngige, however, argued that he went to the shrine with his Bible and only stood at the entrance of the shrine

In 2011, he defeated the former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, and emerged the Senator representing Anambra

-Central senatorial district. As the only APC senator in the South-East, many believed Ngige would have emerged the Senate President had he been re-elected on March 28.

Abdulrahman Dambazau

Lt.Gen Dambazau (retd.) served as the Chief of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010. Since he is the only retired general on the ministerial list, many believe that he will be named the Minister of Defence since traditionally, the portfolio is preserved for retired military officers.

Apart from his illustrious military career, the 61-year-old also holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University and a PhD in Criminology from University of Keele.

He headed the security committee of the APC during the election.

Udo Udoma

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is the current Chairman of the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and the Chairman of UAC Nigeria Plc. He served as the first Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission between 1991 and 1992.

Udoma represented Akwa Ibom-South senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party between 1999 and 2007.

In his illustrious legislative career, Udoma led the Committees on Appropriations, and National Planning. He was also the Senate Majority Chief Whip between 2004 and 2007.

A political support group of the APC in Akwa Ibom State has, however, rejected the nomination of Udoma, arguing that Udoma is still a card carrying member of the PDP and an inner caucus member of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s government in Akwa Ibom.

Solomon Dalong

Dalong is one of the many lawyers on Buhari’s ministerial list. He was a protégé of the pioneer National Chairman of the PDP and strongman of Plateau politics, the late Solomon Lar. The 51-year-old was an officer of the Nigeria Prison Service. After his retirement, he became a lecturer at the University of Jos.

Amina Ibrahim

The 54-year-old is currently the Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She also worked as the presidential adviser on Millennium Development Goals for six years. In this position, she was in charge of designing and developing government projects to reduce poverty around the country. Between 2002 and 2005, she worked in the United Nations Millennium Project as a coordinator of the Task Force on Gender and Education.

She was the Executive Director of the Afri-Projects Consortium which was the major consultant of the Buhari-led Petroleum Trust Fund in the 1990s.

Her nomination has, however, been rejected by a group, Youth Salvation Awareness Forum, on the grounds that she is not a member of the APC and did not work for the party during the last election.

Ibe Kachikwu

The current Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation needs no further introduction. Kachikwu, who is from Delta State, was the Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited before he was appointed the GMD by Buhari.

The investment lawyer also served as General Counsel with Texaco Upstream and Downstream in Nigeria; and General Counsel for ExxonMobil Nigeria affiliate Upstream and Downstream Companies in Nigeria.

Apart from being a guru in the oil sector, Kachikwu is also a magazine publisher. In the early years of Hints magazine, Kachikwu contributed stories and also wrote a weekly column titled, ‘Fatherhood with Ibe’.

It is believed that Kachikwu will serve as the Minister of State for Petroleum since President Buhari has said he will serve as the Minister of Petroleum. It, however, remains unclear if Kachikwu can hold a ministerial portfolio and an NNPC job at the same time.

Senator Hadi Sirika

Sirika is from Katsina-North senatorial district, the same area where President Buhari is from. He is a very close ally of the President and was one of those who convinced Buhari to join the presidential race last year. He was one of Jonathan’s biggest critics in the North. The former pilot represented Katsina-North on the platform of the defunct CPC between 2001 and 2015.

He also served as the vice chairman of the Millennium Development Goals Committee at the Senate.

Because he is the only ministerial nominee with adequate knowledge of aviation, there are rumours that he will be appointed the Minister of Aviation