President Bola Tinubu is reportedly considering granting an additional Ministerial slot to Kaduna state as part of a strategic political move to consolidate support in the North and acknowledge the massive voter turnout in the 2023 General election.
According to reports from Aso Rock Presidential Villa, on Tuesday, there are strong indications that Honourable Sani Sha’aban, a former Governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a close ally of President Tinubu, is being considered for the position.
President Tinubu is deliberating between selecting the second Minister from either Kaduna or Kano State. However, the odds seem to favor Sha’aban due to his longstanding relationship with President Tinubu and his significant role as a foundation member of the ACN, which was founded by Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
The appointment of Nasir El-Rufai as a Minister had generated some discontent among certain groups, making the selection of Sha’aban from Kaduna State a possible solution to foster stability in the North and strengthen the support base for President Tinubu’s potential re-election bid in 2027.
The decision to consider Sha’aban from Kaduna State takes into account the existing political landscape, with Senator Barau Jibril, the Deputy Senate President, and former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who is reportedly anointed as the next National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by President Tinubu, both hailing from Kano State.
During a recent visit to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj in Mecca, Sha’aban met with President Bola Tinubu, accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, further solidifying their alliance. This move indicates President Tinubu’s commitment to strategically strengthen his position and garner support within the North, while also ensuring regional representation in his cabinet.