The secretary to the Federal Government and “June 12” turncoat, Mr. Baba Gana Kingibe, has become the first casualty of Umar Yar�adua�s desire to revamp the image of his regime.
Our correspondent reported that Kingibe confidently strode into a ceremony where newly promoted military officers were decorated by ailing Yar’adua without an ailing of his impending removal. He was handed his sack letter shortly after the decoration ceremony. Current defense minister Mr. Ahmed Yayale has been appointed to replace Kingibe.
Saharareporters first reported Kingibe�s planned removal in June 2008 as Yar’adua began to think of changing his lackluster cabinet.
Our source within the Presidency disclosed that Kingibe�s fate was sealed a few months ago when Yar’adua’s wife, Turai, received leaks in Germany about the former SFG�s �disloyal activities.� Yar’adua was then in Germany for medical treatment when informants told his wife and other close aides that Kingibe was holding meetings to find a way to replace the ailing Yar’adua.
Kingibe reportedly met at his residence with the former chief of staff, General Abdullahi Mohammed, as well as the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Legbo Kutigi, to discuss how to edge out Yar’adua on the basis of ill health.
Security operatives had leaked a report of the meeting to Turai and she swore that Baba Gana Kingibe would be removed. Our source told SaharaReporters that the politically shrewd Kingibe saved his job by snitching on General Abdullahi (rtd), Yar’adua then chief of staff, as the architect of the meeting. He funneled the information to Turai Yar�adua through Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, a close confidant of the Yar’adua’s, who � in the words of our source � �hates General Abdullahi with a passion.� Mr. Saraki had no trouble convincing Yar’adua to spare Kingibe.
SaharaReporters has also received a reliable scoop that Yar�adua plans to dissolve his entire cabinet on Wednesday, if his health and composure permit. Two sources knowledgeable about the workings of Yar’adua government confirmed to our correspondent that Yar�adua wants to sack the cabinet and replace the old players in his government � many of them the candidates of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The replacement of the cabinet, long in coming, �is timed to help deflect attention from Yar’adua’s health crisis, which is becoming a source of concern,� said one of the sources. SaharaReporters was also told that Yar�adua plans to relieve some special advisers of their posts.
�Expect the president to make some personnel changes and announce some palliatives to win back flagging public support in the face of his medical pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia,� said our source.
Sources also told SaharaReporters that Kingibe is not done with Yar’adua cabinet yet. “He is seriously lobbying to replace Ojo Madueke as the foreign affairs minister”.
Source: Sahara Reports