Our Reporter - 23.07.2007

Nigerian Tribune findings showed that this followed the allocation formula guiding the sharing of the portfolios worked out by a presidential committee, leading to Northern dominance in key ministries.

The first class ministries include Finance, Defence, Education, Works, Transportation, Agriculture, Federal Capital Territory, Health, Water Resources, Petroleum and Internal Affairs.

Findings showed that each of the six geopolitical zones was to take one first grade ministry each, leaving out five that have also been reportedly allocated to the three Northern zones.

Ministries already earmarked for the Northern zones, according to investigations, include Finance, FCT, Agriculture, Water Resources, Works, Transportation, and Defence.

While details of who gets what are still sketchy, findings revealed that the position of Attorney General and Justice Minister was still a subject of contention between the South and the North.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that the SouthWest and the SouthEast might get the positions of Internal and External Affairs respectively, while the Petroleum Ministry is slated for a SouthSouth ministerial nominee.

Further findings indicated that for each of the first class ministries allocated to each of the six geopolitical zones, the leadership caucuses in such zones are to determine which nominees from their zones get such a portfolio.

For the SouthEast, Nigerian Tribune was told that Chief Ojo Maduekwe is to get whatever is zoned to the area as the outgoing National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the de facto leader of the party in the region.

It was learnt that the petroleum portfolio is between the nominee for Bayelsa, Mrs. Alison Madueke and the Akwa Ibom nominee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, though the opinion of Vice President Jonathan Goodluck is said to be paramount on the issue.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of the new ministers has been temporarily fixed for this Wednesday at the Federal Executive Chamber of the Presidential Villa.

The Senate is said to be under pressure to ratify the list at its tomorrow’s sitting, though other reports from the Senate showed that the ratification might also be on piecemeal basis due to the question mark on some nominees’ documents.