NIGERIA - Nigeria's Political Leadership.

The political situation in Nigeria changed after the sudden death of military dictator Gen. Sani Abacha on June 8, 1998. Abacha, a tyrant, was replaced on the following day by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, a man groomed by former dictator Ibrahim Babangida who remains quite powerful behind the scenes. It was Babangida who got Abubakar to release former military ruler Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo from prison on June 15, 1998, and to help the latter become the leading candidate to a civilian presidency. On July 20, 1998 Gen. Abubakar announced a timetable for a return to civilian rule and on Aug. 11 named a 14-member Independent Electoral Commission to run elections. In October 1998 Obasanjo, a Christian southerner, joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP), a broad coalition of veteran politicians from across the country and powerful Muslim northerners controlled by Babangida. On 1999 Obasanjo was elected president - with the PDP thus becoming a ruling party - and served two terms until he stepped down on May 28, 2007. On April 21, 2007, Muslim northerner Umaru Yar'Adua was elected president. He was a PDP candidate, was in the case of Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan - a Christian southerner. Both Yar'Adua and Jonathan were sworn in on May 29 (see omt8NigrWhoAug20-07). Yar'Adua was hand-picked by Obasanjo to succeed him.

The New Government: President Yar'Adua on July 26 officially inaugurated his new cabinet, nearly two months after he took over from Obasanjo. The Senate approved the cabinet nominees on July 24. Consisting of 39 ministers, the cabinet is made up of both technocrats and bureaucrats, some of whom already belonged to the previous government. The new minister in charge of the Nigerian capital, Abuja, and those for environment and agriculture were redeployed from positions they held in the government of Obasanjo.

Hassan Muhammad Lawal retained the labour portfolio he had occupied since 2004, while two former legislators who failed to get themselves re-elected are now cabinet members. Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed who was Head of Service throughout the eight years of Obasanjo's rule is now defence minister. He has no military experience.

Yar'Adua's economic programme follows the same pattern as Obasanjo's as he has also appointed technocrats to manage the country's finances. The new finance minister, Shamsudeen Usman who stepped down as deputy governor of the central bank, already was part of the monetary policy makers of the Obasanjo regime. Yar'Adua took a cue from Obasanjo who himself was in charge of the petroleum ministry throughout the eight years of his tenure. He named no overall minister for the sector, but appointed three junior ministers for petroleum, electricity and gas, respectively. The appointment of Henry Odein Ajumogobia, a lawyer with no oil background, as junior minister for petroleum was to have the oil-rich Niger Delta represented in the cabinet. Yar'Adua kept a pledge to co-opt the opposition into his cabinet. He gave two ministerial slots to the opposition All Nigeria's Peoples Party (ANPP), which challenged his legitimacy.

The following are the ministers, listed by sector: Energy Minister: President Umaru Yar'Adua; State (junior) Minister of Energy (power): Mrs Fatima Balaraba-Ibrahim; State Minister of Energy (petroleum): Henry Odein Ajumogobia; and State Minister of Energy (gas): Odusina Olatunde Emmanuel. Finance Minister: Shamsudeen Usman; State Minister for Finance: Aderemi Babalola; Foreign Minister: Ojo Maduekwe; State Minister (1): Tijani Yahaya Kaura; State Minister (2): Ambassador Bagudu Hirse. Ojo Maduekwe, formerly secretary the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), is a close ally of former President Obasanjo. Interior Minister: Maj Gen Godwin Abbe (rtd); State Minister: Hassan Haruna. Defence Minister: Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed; State Minister: Fidelia Akuabata Njeze. Mines and Steel Development Minister: Sarafa Tunji Isola; State Minister: Ahmed Mohammed Gusau. Transportation Minister: Diezani Alison-Madueke; State Minister: John Okechukwu Emeka. Attorney-General & Justice Minister: Micheal Kaase Aondoakaa. Agriculture & Water Resources Minister: Abba Sayyadi Ruma; State Minister: Adamu Maina Waziri. Commerce & Industry Minister: Charles Ugwu; State Minister: Ahmed Garba Bichi. Culture & Tourism Minister: Adetokunbo Kayode; State Minister: Aliyu Idi Hong. Education Minister: Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu; State Minister (1): Agada Anthony Jerry; State Minister 2): Mrs Aishatu Jibril Dukku. Environment & Housing Minister: Ms Halima Tayo Alao. Minister of Federal Capital Territory (Abuja): Aliyu Modibbo Umar; State Minister: John James Akpanudoedehe; Health Minister: Dr Adenike Grange; State Minister: Gabriel Yakubu Aduku. Information & Communication Minister: John Ogar Odey; State Minister: Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande. Labour Minister: Hassan Muhammad Lawal. Science & Technology Minister: Ms Grace Ekpiwhre. Youth Development Minister: Akinlabi Olasunkanmi. Women Affairs Minister: Ms Saudatu Usman Bungudu. National Planning Commission Minister: Muhammed Sanusi Daggash. National Sports Commission Minister: Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba.