Tinubu May Give Kaduna Another Ministerial Slot

John Shiklam in Kaduna

There were indications that President Bola Tinubu might give additional ministerial slot to Kaduna State as part of his political strategy to make further in-road to the northern Nigeria.

A top source, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Kaduna yesterday.

He said that the move is also aimed at compensating the North-west zone in particular for voting massively for the president in the 2023 general election.

According to him, Mr. Sani Shaaban, a former federal lawmaker and a close ally of the president, is being considered for the appointment.

A chattered accountant by profession, Shaaban is also an international businessman and a member of the royal house in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The source said that “the odds favoured Shaaban due to his close relationship with President Tinubu and also as a foundation member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that was founded by Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State.”

The source added that “with the appointment of Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, which did not go down well with some people,” picking Shaaban as the second minister from Kaduna State “will not only bring about the desired stability in the north, but will also galvanise more support base for Tinubu’s re- election in 2027.”

He added that “the choice of Shaaban from Kaduna State is based on the fact that the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibril and former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who has been reportedly anointed by President Bola Tinubu as the next national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are both from Kano State.”

The source further revealed that during the recent Lesser Hajj in Mecca, Shaaban was said to have met with Tinubu in company of Nuhu Ribadu, the current national security adviser.