Sylva, Malami, Tallen return as ministers, attend FEC meeting

Three of the 10 ministers who were bade farewell last week by President Muhammadu Buhari,  featured prominently at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The ministers had in a dramatic turn of events rescinded their earlier political aspirations for presidential, governorship and other positions and failed to resign their jobs as directed by Buhari.

Persecondnews recalls that the President had given the political appointees in his government May 16, 2022 to quit in pursuit of their political ambitions.

The three ministers, who attended the FEC meeting presided over by Buhari, are the Women Affairs Minister, Paulline Tallen and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, (both joined virtually) while the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami (SAN), attended physically.

Tallen was to contest for APC ticket for Plateau seat in the Senate in the 2023 polls, Sylva was vying for president while Malami gave up his Kebbi State governorship ambition.

He had already picked the Nomination and Expression of Interest forms and launched out in Kebbi, distributing some exotic cars to party chieftains ahead of the primary scheduled for May ending.

It was, however, not clear if the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who also backtracked on his presidential bid after obtaining the form, attended virtually.

Other attendees are the Vice- President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Head of the Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

The National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Munguno, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, Power Minister Abubakar Aliyu, his Federal Capital Territory counterpart, Mr Mohammed Bello, as well as Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola also attended.

Others include Sen. Hadi Sirika ( Aviation), Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunimbe Mamora, his counterpart in Agriculture, Mr Mustapha Shehuri as well as Finance, Budget and National Planning counterpart, Mr Clem Agba.

Persecondnews reports that shortly before the meeting started, the FEC members had observed a minute-silence for a one-time Minister of communications under military administration of retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Mr Olawole Adeniji Ige, who passed on died at the age of 83.