Buhari’s cabinet: Baraje, Bolaji Abdullahi, Moshood Mustapha tipped for Kwara Ministerial slot

As part of jostle for ministerial slot in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, former Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi and a former member of House of Representatives, Hon Moshood Mustapha may have been pencilled down as nominees to represent Kwara State's slot in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), National Pilot gathered yesterday.

Reliable sources told our reporter that the trio’s names feature prominently as nominees to be submitted wherein a candidate will have to emerge courtesy of Buhari’s decision. The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State is expected to submit nominees’ list to the President, it was learnt. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari is reportedly disposed to accepting nomination of capable and tested candidates Saraki, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar among others. “I cannot confirm to you whether their names have been submitted by the leader (Dr Saraki), but three people have been picked. They are Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Bolaji Abdullahi and Moshood Mustapha,” the source told our reporter. However, the trio might have been picked from pool of aspirants who have been silently pushing for and eyeing ministerial position from Kwara State. Baraje, Abdullahi and Mustapha had worked in various capacities during the presidential campaign of the APC, which eventually led to Buhari’s victory in the March 28 presidential polls. While Baraje was the Vice Chairman of the APC Presidential Primaries Committee, which produced Buhari as the party’s candidate; Abdullahi was Deputy Director, Policy Research and Strategy for APC Presidential Campaign Organisation and Mustapha was the Kwara State Coordinator of Buhari’s Campaign Body. Meanwhile, among tipped to form Buhari’s FEC are Immediate past governors of Lagos, Rivers and Ekiti States, Babatunde Fashola SAN, Rotimi Amaechi and Dr Kayode Fayemi; the Deputy National Chairman of APC (South-West), Engineer Segun Oni; former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Abdurahman Danbazzau; a former Presidential Candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi and the former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.