Second Batch of Team Renewed Hope

Emmanuel Addeh and Adewale Adedayo in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday sent a new list containing a 19-member second batch of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for screening, about six days after similarly forwarding 28 names. This brought the figure so far to about 47.

The list was, however, heavy on politicians, rather than the technocrats Nigerians were expecting to come on board to salvage a largely disgruntled country. In all, Tinubu has about 10 former governors on both lists, with many serving and former members of the National Assembly. Will they in salvaging Nigeria? Time will tell.

 Bosun Tijani (Ogun)

A Nigerian entrepreneur, Bosun Tijani is co-founder and Chief Executive of Co-Creation Hub, a technology innovation centre which was provided $100,000 by the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2012.

Born in July, 1977, he studied at the University of Jos where he first started off studying for a diploma in Computer Science before going on to study Economics, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 2002. He later obtained an MSc in Information Systems and Management from the Warwick Business School, United Kingdom in 2007.

Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo (Kano)

Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo,  graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,  former Chairman of Gwarzo local government, former ALGON chairman in Kano,  former Adviser to Governor Shekarau on Special Duties, Deputy Governor of Kano state as well as Commissioner of Water Resources.

Gwarzo was the governorship candidate of Action Congress (ACN) and served as the pioneer Chairman of APC in Kano state.

He was the immediate governing Council Chairman of the Federal College of Education,  Zaria. Married two wives with children.

Maryam Shetti (Kano)

Ex-national leader of #WeBelieve, an All Progressives (APC) support group that promoted the achievements of the last administration, Shetti has an honorary degree from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologie (ESGT University), Benin. She is a political and social activist as well as a physiotherapist.

Born into the Kano royal family, Shetti started her early education in Kano and went to Federal School of Physiotherapy in Bayero University, where she finished her Bsc. with distinction.

She has a Masters Degree from the University of East London, Stratford where she majored in sports physiotherapy and was at the State House Clinic at the Presidential Villa.

Tunji Alausa (Lagos)

Tunji Alausa is the Executive Chairman, Founder, and Chief Medical Officer of Dialysis Care Centre. He attended the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is also the Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Kidney Care Centre.

He is a member of board-certified Nephrologist and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist/Minimal Access Surgeon at the Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi as well as Head of Laparoscopic Surgical Unit.

 Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi)

Senator Abubakar Bagudu was the 8th Governor of Kebbi State, having assumed office on May 29, 2015.  Prior to his election in May 2015, he represented Kebbi Central at the Senate.

Under his leadership, the Kebbi State government entered into a partnership with the Lagos State government on the establishment of a commodity value chain that will give a quantum leap to food processing, production and distribution.

He however defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 and joined the All Progressive Congress (APC).

He had his University Education at Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto State , where he obtained his BSc. in Economics and proceeded to the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he had his Masters in Economics and thereafter went to Columbia University where he obtained his M.A in International Affairs.

 Gboyega Oyetola (Osun)

Gboyega Oyetola, the former governor of Osun State lost to the incumbent , Ademola Adeleke after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Appellate Court that Adeleke won the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

 Oyetola was born in 1954, and served  as the state’s ninth governor. He enrolled at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he earned a BSc in Insurance in 1978. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the same university in 1990. He’s an insurance expert. He was also Chief of Staff to the former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Bello Matawalle (Zamfara)

 Born in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara in 1969, Matawalle studied at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and Thames Valley University, London.

From May 1999 to 2003, he served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the state. He’s the erstwhile governor of Zamfara state.

 Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe)

Former governor and senator representing the Yobe East Senatorial District on the platform of APC, he was before then, a classroom teacher and an accountant with a membership with the Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria (CPA)

 Tanko Sununu (Kebbi)

He represents Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency. He was a Member of Board of Management Federal Medical Centre Katsina (2013) and Member of Board Management Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto (2018). The trained Obstetrician and Gynaecologist was born in 1967.

 Ishak Salako (Ogun)

Dr Ishaq Salako is a medical practitioner and former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State. He’s the Co-ordinator, Ogun West Stakeholders Forum.

Simon Lalong (Plateau)

Simon Lalong was born in 1963. He served as governor of Plateau State from 2015 to 2023. He was also the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC.

In 1998, Lalong temporarily discarded legal practice to pursue a political career. He successfully contested for  the Plateau State House of Assembly. In October 2000, he became the Speaker of the House of Assembly, occupying that position until 2006.

The seven years which he served as the speaker made him the longest-serving speaker of the House in the history of Plateau State. During that period he was elected as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of Nigeria.

Lola Ade John (Lagos)

An Information and Technology expert,  Lola Ade John studied Computer Science at the University of Ibadan. She has worked with Access Bank, United Bank of Africa, Ecobank and Novateur Business Technology.

Shuaibu Abubakar ( Adamawa)

He was born in 1965.  He is a Nigerian accountant, businessman, philanthropist and lawmaker. He represents Mubi North/Mubi South/Mahia federal constituency of Adamawa state in the Nigerian House of Representatives.

He was appointed a Commissioner in 2007 by the then governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, in recognition of ‘achievements’ recorded in the private sector.

He therefore served as Commissioner for Lands and Survey – and was on the Adamawa State Executive Council – from 2007 to 2014, when Governor Nyako was impeached.

Tahir Mamman (Adamawa)

He is a Professor of law and Senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He is also an educational administrator and was the Director-General of the Nigeria Law School from 2005 to 2013.

He is the current Vice chancellor of Baze University Abuja and member governing board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He is a recognised member of the Body of Benchers. In 2010, he became a board member of the International Association of Law Schools based in Washington DC. In September 2015, he was conferred with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) status.

Aliyu Sabi (Niger)

He was born in 1967. He represented Niger North Senatorial District during the  8th  and 9th National Assembly. He was the Deputy Chief Whip at the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.

Sa’idu Alkali (Gombe)

He was born in 1969. He was elected as senator for the Gombe North senatorial district of Gombe Statate in August 2010 bye-elections after the death of the incumbent Senator Kawu Dukku.

He was re-elected in the 2011 general election on the platform of the PDP platform.

Also in the 2015 and the 2019 general election under the platforms of APC, Alkali lost Gombe North Senatorial seat to former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo in the 2023 general election.

Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)

He was born in 1967. He was a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2003, and Speaker of the House from June 1999 – May 2001.

He was elected Senator in April 2007 on the platform of PDP, representing  Bayelsa West constituency.

In 2015, he defected from the PDP to the  APC. He was later appointed a minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Uba Maigari (Taraba)

He was a former Deputy Governor of Taraba state. He was also the Chairman of the  campaign committee for the gubernatorial candidate of APC in Taraba for the 2023 general election.

Zaphaniah  Jisalo ( FCT)

He was born on April 3rd, 1970. He worked with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 1990 to 2002. He was elected Chairman Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in 2004. He was re-elected in 2007.

In 2011,  Jisalo was elected into the House of Representatives to represent Abuja Municipal/Bwari Constituency.

During this period he served in the following House Committees: Sports, NDDC, Defence, Customs & Excise, Appropriations, National Security & Security.