Ministerial nomination causes stir in Lagos PDP

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga

A directive, which purportedly came from the Presidency, insisting on female ministerial nominees from Lagos State, is causing a stir in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Leaders of the party in Lagos, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH, were divided on whether or not the directive came from the President and the ability of female ministers to help the PDP win the state in 2015.

A leader of the party, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said they were not happy with the directive.

The source said the Lagos PDP had initially conceded its ministerial slot to allow Mr. Olusegun Aganga, a technocrat, to become the Minister of Trade and Investment.

He added that the sacking of some ministers presented an opportunity for Lagos PDP to nominate a minister that would support it effectively.

He said, “Now this opportunity came for us to get another slot and the President in his magnanimity gave the only slot for the zone to Lagos. We went through the process and the state Chairman, Tunji Shelle, emerged from the selection. Suddenly, we heard that the President said he wanted a female minister from Lagos.

“We know it did not come from the President and it is not acceptable to us in Lagos PDP. We need a male minister because all our strategies to win Lagos in 2015 will only work out with a male minister, who will give us enough support.”

Our correspondent gathered that with the directive, leaders of Lagos PDP had to conduct another selection process, through which three females, Adenike Jones (Lagos Central), Tanwa Olusi (Lagos West), and Ajoke Maina (Lagos East), emerged.

It is expected that the President will choose one out of these three.

A chieftain of the party in Lagos, Mr. Moshood Salvador, who was initially considered for the ministerial slot, said he had confirmed that the idea of a female minister did not come from the President.

He said, “We are not comfortable with the idea of having a female minister because nobody that wants success for PDP can say that a woman can lead the war against All Progressives Congress in Lagos.”

The Secretary of Lagos PDP, Mr. Wahab Owokoniran, confirmed that the ministerial slot had been zoned to the state, adding that he believed the directive for a female minister came from the President.

Owokoniran said he did not see any difference between a male and a female, as far as the ministerial appointment was concerned.

“What a man can do, a woman can also do. We are hopeful that the appointment of female minister from Lagos will be advantageous for Lagos PDP,” he said.

Similarly, another PDP chieftain, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, said the President wanted a female from Lagos PDP in order to have a gender balance in his cabinet.

Ogunlewe, who admitted that some people within Lagos PDP wanted a male minister instead, said, “It is the discretion of the President. He has the final say. He will determine whom he wants to work with.”

When contacted on the development,  the acting PDP National Vice-Chairman South-West, Mr. Deji Doherty, told our correspondent that he was not aware of the President’s preference of any gender for the ministerial slot for the zone.