AmanaOnline

Nigerians across the 36 states have given their assessment of the ministers appointed into office by President Bola Tinubu as he marks his first year in office.

The assessments reflect how citizens view the performance of the ministers, and indirectly, the impact that Tinubu has had on their lives socially and politically in terms of administration.

LEADERSHIP Sunday spoke with party officials in a number of states about the ministers representing them to determine their political relevance to both the president and the state, and also whether the ministers get along with their state governors.

Citizens also weighed in on the impact they believe ministers representing their states have had on the states and the country, and whether they are deserving of their appointments.

Some ministers who got favourable assessment from either party officials in their states or by citizens include Dr Tunji Alausa, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Abubakar Badaru, and in the case of Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nasarawa residents want Tinubu to give her a bigger portfolio.

Those with unfavourable assessments with their own state indigenes and political operatives include Wale Edun, Bosun Tijani, Abubakar Momoh, Abubakar Kyari and Bosun Tijani.

The north west region, however appears to be where party officials and citizens are most dissatisfied with the ministers representing them with a number of people expressing indifference to the removal of ministers from office.

Some are lamenting the inability of Barrister Bello Goronyo, the minister of state for Water Resources, to utilise Goronyo Dam to the maximum and bring an end to perennial flooding, synonymous to their area and beyond every raining season.

In Kano, many residents are of the view that the minister of state for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo and minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory have had no impact on the lives.

A New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) stalwart in Kano acknowledged a working relationship between Gwarzo and the state government, saying “they may be meeting in Abuja, to discuss especially concerning how the state government can allocate land for mass housing development projects in the state.

Garba kirikasamma, a civil society activist, believes the defense minister, Abubakar Badru deserves to be retained as he has been doing a good job in supporting Tinubu’s government to overcome the lingering security challenges militating the country.

According to Sadiq Musa, who is a resident of Katsina,”Ahmed Dangiwa, the minister of Housing and Urban Development regularly visits the state and whenever he comes, people must have felt his impact.

“But for Hannatu Musawa, I don’t know much about her, because she hardly visits the state much less of meeting with the people to assist.”

While speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the public relations officer of APC, Isah Assalafi said the appointment Abubakar Atiku Bagudu immediate past governor of the state who was appointed minister of Budget and Economic Planning and Tanko Sununu, as minister of state education was in the interest of APC and good people of their constituencies Gwandu and Yauri.

Kaduna residents and politicians expressed mixed feelings over the performances of the minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.

A resident, Sani Musa, who resides in Kakuri said, “I don’t know who the minister from Kaduna state is. Someone I don’t even know his name; how can I assess him?”

In Ondo State, two ministers come from the state. They are minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo and Olawande Ayo Wisdom, the minister of state for Youth Development.

The two ministers have been described by the party and the people of the state as true representatives of the state in the cabinet of the President Bola Tinubu.

Both the party, represented by its spokesman, Alex Kalejaye and the people of the state are happy with the performance of the ministers in their various ministries.

Minister of Power, Abdulwaheed Adelabu’s appointment as minister was met with stiff opposition by members of the APC in Oyo, who believed that they have been robbed of their position in the new government.

Though, efforts were made by leadership of the party to ensure his acceptance, nothing has changed about how party officials feel.

The only minister from Osun State in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is Adegboyega Oyetola who is the pioneer minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

Oyetola, being the immediate past governor of Osun State remains relevant even as he maintained the leadership role of the opposition, APC in the state.

Dr Tunji Alausa minister of state for Health and Social Welfare is a-certified Nephrologist and the founding partner of both Kidney Care Center in the United States.

Lagosians who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday in separate interviews described his appointment as a round peg in a round hole.

A public Affairs analyst and journalist, Oluwole Farotimi said the minister has done well and should be allowed to retain his position in the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Another  Lagos resident, Thomas Akinsanmi, said for spearheading reforms in the health sector Dr. Tunji Alausa should be retained to turn around the sector.

Residents of Ogun State have continued to lament what they described as ineptitude and non-visibility of the ministers serving under the Tinubu.

Except the minister of state for Environment, Dr Isiaq Kunle Salako, who has visited the state twice to assess the level of havocs wreaked by the year 2023 flooding on the state, the two others have allegedly deserted the state, not to talk of having any impact on residents of the state anywhere.

On the other hand, however, the duo of the minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani have completely distanced themselves from the state.

Speaking on the glaring disappearances and disconnection of Edun and Tijani from their constituents, state chairman of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and pro-democracy groups, Bankole Solomon said the duo have no business being part of the cabinet because of the incompetency they have so far exhibited since their assumption if office.

Dele Alake is the minister of Solid Minerals from Ekiti State.

A member of APC in Ekiti State, Oladele Ojo while speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday on the political relevance of the minister described Alake as a great asset to the president and his state.

An indigene of the state, Ayoola Ajayi said, “We have not seen him in Ekiti over the years before he was appointed minister due to his closeness to the president. As far as I am concerned, he has not done anything serious to impact Ekiti since he assumed office as minister, though I have been reading and hearing about him doing one thing or the other in Abuja and other states of the federation.

“On whether he should be retained as minister, that should be decided by president Tinubu. But all I know we have good hands in Ekiti state who can do well and do better.”

The minister of sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, has been commended for in Cross River State because he hosted a sports festival at the Cross River State Peoples’ Club Calabar, where opportunity was being provided for sports lovers to rub minds on sporting issues and development.

For Ekperikpe Ekpo, the minister of Petroleum (Gas Resources),  the chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Amos Etuk, says he plays friendly politics.

The minister, according to Bassey Udom, a community leader in Ibeno LGA, had since his appointment, influenced jobs and appointments, as well as attracted projects to the youths of the State including facilitating the 20,000 Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant currently ongoing at Atabrikang Aquaha community in Ibeno LGA.

Jonathan Nisayaba Aibuedefe, a leader of the APC said Edo State is at loss with the appointment of Engr Abubakar Momoh, the minister of Niger Delta.

He said, “Administratively, the minister is notorious in Edo South Senatorial District for attracting five capital projects from FEC to Edo State, and he domiciled the whole projects to his none oil and gas producing senatorial district of Edo North.

Immediate-past Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike is the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In terms of performance as minister, not a few residents of the state have praised him for upgrading the status of Abuja, the FCT.