New forces emerge to stop Buhari's planned reshuffling

President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the report, had planned to announce the sack of about 10 ministers in January

- The president is now said to be facing a major battle from some powerful power brokers who have started using lobbyists

There is a reported tension among Nigeria’s ministers and other cabinet members in the Muhammadu Buhari government over a planned reshuffling by the president.

Part of the planned cabinet change is the reduction of the portfolio given to Babatunde Fashola, the minister of Power, Works and Housing.

The president is reportedly under pressure to shelve the planned cabinet reshuffling

“The government is of the view that the workload of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing should be reduced to ensure efficiency and focus.

“The thinking is also informed by the fact that with the coming of Ondo State into the APC fold in the South-West, the ministerial nominee from the state will now head a substantive ministry,” a source was quoted as saying.

The Nigerian Tribune reports that new forces emerged to initiate moves aimed at stalling the plan by the president this New Year.

There had been reports that the president would announce a reshuffling of his cabinet early in 2017 after a meeting with some legislators, but the battle has been intensified to frustrate him.

The new forces are said to be running to power brokers around the country to save them from the president’s hammer.

The report said the president had penciled down the names of 10 ministers who were to be sent packing and replaced with more dynamic persons who can help push things through in certain sectors.

It was learnt that the president is now under pressure from lobbyists asking him to postpone the action till May when his government would be two-years-old.

Some of the lobbyists are also of the view that the president could use the opportunity of the resignation of the minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, in February to announce the change in the cabinet.

Mrs Mohammed is leaving the cabinet to join the United Nations (UN) as deputy secretary-general.

Some also want the president to name the nominee from Kogi and Gombe states to replace the late James Ocholi, who died in March 2016 and Amina Mohammed.

The report said the presidency is considering a major position for Ondo state which recently joined All Progressives Congress (APC).

The cabinet member from Ondo state may get one of the ministries handled by Fashola.