2023: Five ministers resign after Buhari’s order to pursue ambitions
Niger Delta Affairs Minister Senator Godswill Akpabio and others have resigned in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.
The President during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday ordered all cabinet members eyeing elective offices to quit before May 16.
Others are Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister for Transport, and Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of science and technology.
The Ministers resigned their appointment after Buhari ordered members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) seeking elective offices to resign on or before Monday, May 16. Tolu Ogunlesi, a media aide to the president, in a tweet on Wednesday, claimed two ministers had resigned, while a third minister had “reportedly resigned”.
He wrote: “So far, two ministers have now resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to pursue their presidential aspirations.
“A third minister has now reportedly resigned. Also to pursue Presidential ambition.”
However, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has claimed he wants to get clarification from Buhari before he makes a decision on resigning.
All the Ministers, who have stepped down, are seeking to clinch the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general election.
They will be contesting in the primaries against the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, among others
He said: “the Minister has resigned. He has submitted his resignation letter to the SGF. We are waiting for him at the ICC, where he is coming to submit his nomination form”. His Personal Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom also confirmed his resignation.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Godswill Akpabio was a former Two Term Governor of Akwa Ibom State as well as a Senator representing the State in the National Assembly.
He recently declared his intention to run for the position of President under the ruling All Progressives Congress at the Ikot Ekpene Stadium in Akwa Ibom State.
His resignation will be the third by Ministers within the Federal Executive Council Following one from that of Minister of State For Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
Other members of the cabinet who have resigned already or are still expected to do so are Abubakar Malami, Justice, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Transport, Uche Ogar, State For Mines and Steel, Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment.
