Gbajabiamila urged Tinubu to lay low in UK during cabinet shake-up – source

There have been reports that suggest a number of ministers, together with their godfathers, have stepped up their lobbying efforts to stay in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Recall that the presidency revealed on Wednesday that Tinubu intended to reorganize the cabinet.

However, some presidential aides told The Punch that some ministers had started frantic lobbying to be in the President’s good books.

“Yes, that is a typical thing. Some of the ministers will be calling their godfathers to influence the President. It is a normal thing. But the President will still do what is on his mind for the country,” one of the aides said.

According to the sources, some ministers, who are afraid of being dropped from the federal cabinet and their godfathers, have intensified lobbying, seeking the intervention of the President’s allies and associates, including the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, for a soft-landing.

Another top official stated that Gbajabiamila had expressed concern over the intense lobbying and pressure on Tinubu by those seeking assurances on the fate of their protégés in the Federal Executive Council.

He explained that the CoS advised the president to go the UK to take some time off, hence the reason Nigerians did not know about Tinubu’s whereabouts for some days.

The source stated, “Since reports filtered out that the President would soon reshuffle his cabinet, he has been under immense pressure from political godfathers and ministers who are afraid that they may be dropped from the cabinet.

“Due to the intense pressure, the CoS had to advise the President to take some days off in the United Kingdom after concluding the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in China two weeks ago.

“Remember that for some days, Nigerians did not know about Tinubu’s whereabouts. After pictures of his meeting with King Charles surfaced online, people started speculating that he went to London for medical checks. The fact is that he was advised to spend a few days to allow the pressure and lobbying to subside.

“Anyway, it is not unusual for politicians to lobby on behalf of their wards but Nigerians are not satisfied with the performance of many of the ministers and the President would have no choice but to let them go. If you are not performing, you have to go, regardless of who your godfather is.”