The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has dismissed the sacking of two ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari as a gimmick, diversionary and an attempt to cover up failures of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the past six years.
The president on Wednesday fired Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Nanono and his Power counterpart, Saleh Mamman.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said the ministers were sacked after an independent and critical self-review of their performances.
“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians,” Buhari said.
But the House Minority Caucus, in a statement signed by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) on Thursday, stated that the majority of Nigerians are not swayed by the sack of the ministers.
It stated that their sack came when the inapt and anti-people policies, as well as the corruption and lethargic approach to governance, have become the hallmark of the administration.
“Instead of resorting to unprofitable diversionary stunts, the Minority caucus urges President Buhari to take decisive steps to address worsening insecurity and excruciating economic hardship by ending the incompetence, compromises, corruption, exclusionism and impunity in the system under his watch.
“The Minority caucus holds that governance requires commitment, demonstration of capacity, political will power, transparency and broadmindedness at the topmost levels,” the statement added.