Tinubu’s New Arsenal

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday submitted a fresh batch of the ministerial nominees’ list to the Senate.

Containing the names of 19 notable Nigerians, the list was read out by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the plenary for confirmation.

The list, which was submitted by President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at about 03:19 pm, is a completion of the eleven states that were left out in the first ministerial slot.

Five former governors, technocrats, politicians and academics made the second batch of the ministerial list.

The 19 new ministerial nominees

Bosun Tijani – Olatunbosun Tijani is a Nigerian-British entrepreneur, Co-founder and CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), the leading Pan-African innovation and technology center. He is widely acknowledged as a pioneer and industry leader in the African technology ecosystem and was named one of the 100 Most Influential People on the continent by New Africa Magazine. Tijani hails from Lagos State.

Dr. Maryam Shettima: Maryam Shettima, popularly known as Maryam Shetty, is a political, social activist and qualified physiotherapist. She served as the National Leader of #WeBelieve, an APC support group that promotes the achievements of the Buhari administration. She was born into the Kano royal family. She was on the medical team of the London Olympics.

Dr. Ishak Salako: Salako, a medical practitioner, is a former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State. He is the Co-ordinator of Ogun West Stakeholders Forum.

Dr. Tunji Alausa: Tunji Alausa, who hails from Epe in Lagos State, is a United States board-certified Nephrologist with over 30 years of experience in private and public health sectors. He is the founder and executive chairman of both Kidney Care Center and Dialysis Care Center, a rapidly growing provider of boutique renal care and dialysis services operating in several states in the United States.

Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu: Hon. Sununu currently represents Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State in the National Assembly. He was a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.

Adegboyega Oyetola: Oyetola, an insurance guru and businessman, is the immediate past Governor of Osun State. Prior to his emergence as governor in 2018, he was the Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Simon Bako Lalong: Lalong, who served as Plateau State governor for two consecutive terms between 2015 to 2023 is a lawyer and politician. He was a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. Lalong served as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council during the last general elections.

Atiku Bagudu: Bagudu is the immediate past Governor of Kebbi State and ex-Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum. He was at the helm of affairs for two consecutive terms. Prior to his election as Governor, he represented Kebbi Central Senatorial District in the Senate.

Bello Mattawale: Mattawale is the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, who served for only one term and lost his reelection to the incumbent Governor Dauda Lawal. Mattawale served as Zamfara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports between 1999 and 2003. He was a three terms member of the House of Representatives.

Ibrahim Gaidam: Gaidam, a two-term senator currently representing Yobe East Senatorial District, is the immediate past Governor of his State. Prior to her election as Governor, Gaidam, an accountant turned politician served as Commissioner for Youths and Sports; Commissioner of Commerce and Industries; Permanent Secretary in various ministries and Deputy Governor of Yobe State.

Lola Ade-John: Ade John is the Principal Consultant at Novateur Business Technology Consultants, a company she founded in 2014. She served as the Head of Applications at United Bank for Africa (UBA) and also worked in Ecobank Nigeria, where she held various senior management roles within and outside Nigeria, solidifying her reputation as a top technology expert.

Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu: Shuaibu is the first son of the former late Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu. Shuaibu, an accomplished investment banker of over 25 years, is a former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Kogi State.

Prof. Tahir Mamman: Tahir Mamman (SAN), a Professor of law and Director-General of the Nigeria Law School from 2005 to 2013, is the current Vice Chancellor of Baze University Abuja and a member Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He was National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of APC.

Senator Sabi Abdullahi: Senator Abdullahi is a two-term senator represented Niger North Senatorial District in the Eighth and Ninth National Assembly. He served as the Deputy Chief Whip in the Ninth Senate.

Senator Alkali Sa’idu: Senator Sa’idu Alkali represented Gombe North Senatorial District in the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Assembly and chaired various Senate standing committees. He lost the Gombe North Senatorial seat to former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo in the 2023 general elections, in a poll described as a re-match of the 2019 polls.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri: Senator Lokpobiri served as former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development.. during President Muhammadu Buhari administration. He was a two-term senator, who represented Bayelsa West in the Senate. Lokpobiri was a former member and Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

Uba Maigari Ahmadu: Maigari, a former deputy governor of Taraba State is an APC chieftain. He served as the chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for the Borno Central senatorial district for the 2023 elections

Zephaniah Jisalo: Jisalo, a former member of the House of Representatives, is the nominee from the federal capital territory (FCT). He is the first Abuja indigene to be nominated for a ministerial position.

Ahmed Tijjani Gwarzo: Ahmed Tijjani is a former Deputy Governor of Kano State. He is a close associate of President Bola Tinubu.