New Nigerian president retains security chiefs

There is uncertainty over who Yar'Adua will choose for key ministries such as finance and energy

Umaru Yar'Adua, the new Nigerian president, has retained two top security chiefs from his predecessor's administration in his first appointments since taking office, the presidency said today. The retention of the chief of staff and national security adviser of Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president, had been widely expected.

There is more uncertainty over who Yar'Adua will choose for key ministries such as finance and energy, and the leadership of the new National Assembly. These appointments have yet to be announced. Yar'Adua, who took office yesterday, reappointed Abdullahi Mohammed as chief of staff and Sarki Muktar as national security adviser, the presidency said.

Farouk Lawan, a ruling party member of the House of Representatives, said: "For the purpose of continuity and stability, it is good for him to keep some of his predecessor's key people." Yar'Adua's inauguration marked the first handover of power from one civilian leader to another in Africa's most populous nation. He is the first president without a military background in Nigeria for 17 years.

Yar'Adua also named Babagana Kingibe, a former foreign minister, as secretary to the government of the federation, a top administrative post which represents the presidency to ministries and civil servants. He made one other appointment to the Federal Capital Territory, which administers Abuja, but has yet to announce the rest of his cabinet.

Debt to Obasanjo
Yar'Adua is a former governor of the remote northern state of Katsina and owes his emergence as president almost exclusively to Obasanjo, who pushed him through the party primaries and led his campaign. The elections that brought him to power were so tainted by rigging and violence that international observers said they were "not credible".

Yar'Adua now faces the delicate task of showing respect for his political godfather, while satisfying the hope of many Nigerians that he will break free from Obasanjo. The former president's popularity suffered in the final months of his tenure because of electoral fraud, mud-slinging in the campaign and his autocratic leadership style.

Obasanjo automatically becomes chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party and has said he expects it to set policy for the government to implement. Yar'Adua has said the party has a role to play, but that he derives his powers from the constitution. Party officials say Yar'Adua is under enormous pressure from Obasanjo to accept his choices for the leadership of the National Assembly, which has veto rights over all legislation and also has powers of impeachment.

The day before he left office, Obasanjo told ruling party members that he had nominated two close allies for the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The nominations have drawn criticism because both individuals supported a failed attempt in 2006 to rewrite the Nigerian constitution to allow Obasanjo to stay in power for longer. - Reuters

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 30.05.2007 12:52

Ebe2  Villager

# 2 Obasanjo presidency III with a Yar'Adua face. Kingibe is a smart guy, but I don't know if he'll be effective as SGF, being a very political person. Posted by Ebe2| 30.05.2007 14:41

yashuaib1  Villager

# 3 I think the appointment of Babagana Kingibe is tactical and strategic. A strategic diplomat ( u should know what that means) who understands the working of intelligence community and political environment. He is a neutral player in the political environment that brings out YarAdua. He is highly inteligent person who knows when to take decisive action without making noise. We shouldnt forget that he worked in Abacha regime from the begining to the end but was not controversial in his action and deed. He may still have symphathy for some members of that regime, especially the incarcerated Gen. Bamaiyi and El-Mustafha. I suspect that he may neutralise the extreme pro-obj elements in the new dispensation and pro-change in addressing the current feelings in the country. The game has started. YAShuaib Posted by yashuaib1| 30.05.2007 14:54

ozoodoo  Villager

# 4 Kingibe is a "smart guy" for abandoning June 12 and joining in the "choping" regime of Abacha. Being selfishly opportunistic may have paid Kingibe handsomely but I wonder how that helped the cause of progressive political development in Nigeria. Posted by ozoodoo| 30.05.2007 15:07

bakoso2000  Villager

# 5 Sooner rather than later, it will be seen and much to the disappointment of an average Nigerian that as honorable and honest as he may appear, Umaru Yar'Adua (UMR) does not have what it takes to Shepard Nigerians to the Promised Land. He is just another willing stooge available for the use of the ruling cabal and Obasanjo's presidential third term by proxy. The Babangida/Obj power bloc is still active and it will continue to cast its dark shadow over Nigeria's political sphere. Don't be fooled that Babangida did not attend Umaru's inauguration. It was all part of a grand design to deceive Nigeria by creating the false impression all is not well between him and the current leaders. Using EFCC and the judiciary as his usual attack dogs, Obj is battle ready to destroy Atiku and his supporters among whom are ex-governors and former legislators through allegations of corruption, assets forfeiture, fixed trials and jail time. Some of those supporters have already gone into hiding. Umaru's is the perfect tool OBJ needed to break the backbone of Atiku’s future political ambition. Since Shehu Musa Yar'Adua's death, Atiku, at the deteriment of the family of his political Godfather (Shehu Yar'Adua who is the deceased brother of the newly inaugurated president), has carried on as the sole inheritor of PDM, Shehu's political machine that shot Atiku to the limelight and has enriched himself without caring for the family of his late political mentor. Umaru's purpose in government is to stage a vendetta against the arch-enemy of his family, help OBJ finish off Atiku and his friends who frustrated his 3rd term ambition and destroyed his political legacy by exposing him as a corrupt leader instead of a messiah. After a few years of make-belief honesty, Umaru will finally show his true color by becoming corrupt, dipping his hand in Nigeria's wealth to rebuild his family fortune. While this power show is going on - the question remains; who will fight for the ordinary Nigerians and a nation that neglect and poverty have left prostrate and comatose? Posted by bakoso2000| 30.05.2007 15:15

InDiaspora  Villager

# 6 1. If Yar'Adua is as honourable as he says he is, he should call for an fresh early election to test or confirm his "mandate". He says he knows the election were deeply flawed, but that he would have won anyway. Let him put his money where his mouth is. 2. Villagers just an observation - is it a coincidence that the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff are both from the North. All these years they have been there have they not groomed anybody from the Niger Delta region, or any other minorites for that position? Or am I just being naive? Why are the same people being recycled now and again? These are how demi-gods are made. Posted by InDiaspora| 30.05.2007 15:29

daaloy  Villager

# 7 Guys, our fear of OBJ III is manifesting. I know he could retain some because they are all PDP, but sensitive positions as National Security, No way for OBJ carry over. Let hope this will change in the federal cabinet. Ik Posted by daaloy| 30.05.2007 17:11

No Smoking  Villager

# 8 The early appointments have gone the way OBJ planned for UMYA: Senate President, NSA, COS. Kingibe wasn't mentioned, so p'haps this is UMYA's choice. Baba Kingibe was nearly ruined by the June 12 IBB coup, as he'd ploughed everything into winning the election with MKO. Anyway, dis Baba mus' different from di Baba wey jus' komot from di Rock, yes ke. Don't know if I missed any announcement about military service chiefs?? Posted by No Smoking| 30.05.2007 18:45

Zanderlex  Villager

# 9 It is absolutely shameful to be discussing this crap in this honorable forum. This illegitimate subversion of the will of the people by Yaradua and Co should not benefit from our intellectual analysis. We should be talking about ways to fix this illegal arrangement called government. Anybody who accepts anything from these individuals that parade themselves as government of Nigeria is simply a traitor. Discusing anything other than ways for a fresh election is tantamount to sabotage and therefore punishable by sanctions and isolation. Until the diginity of Nigerian voters are restored we must continue to speak out and condem this cabals in the PDP. Posted by Zanderlex| 30.05.2007 19:19

UncleTisha  Villager

# 10 =Zanderlex;179584>It is absolutely shameful to be discussing this crap in this honorable forum. This illegitimate subversion of the will of the people by Yaradua and Co should not benefit from our intellectual analysis. We should be talking about ways to fix this illegal arrangement called government. Anybody who accepts anything from these individuals that parade themselves as government of Nigeria is simply a traitor. Discusing anything other than ways for a fresh election is tantamount to sabotage and therefore punishable by sanctions and isolation. Until the diginity of Nigerian voters are restored we must continue to speak out and condem this cabals in the PDP. Bros, Abeg take am easy o! Pipes are liable to being burst o. So please chill small. Nigeria needs you. The matter don dey for tribunal. Tribunal don talk say Atiks and the Sojaman fit check all electoral materials. So make you just relax dey watch as things unfold, in line with due process. Abeg.:rolleyes::eek::rolleyes: Posted by UncleTisha| 30.05.2007 19:57

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