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he media assumptions on the tardy Ministers appointments that Senate President got 21 nominees; Nigerian President held up 15 nominees; and the Senate got fresh 11 nominees came to an end at 16:59 PM, local time Wednesday, September 30, 2015; even though some skeptics believed it was an empty brown envelope submitted to the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki. The list finally revealed the novel 'Noisemakers', as most of them are reprocessed. The anticipated expectation was to have new broom to sweep the debris in the community, along the vision of President Mohammadu Buhari, prompting his body language to provide adequate services for Nigerians.

Senate President Receiving the List of Nominees in a Brown Envelope September 30, 2015 at 16:59pm Local Time

Why the long wait for Buhari's 'Noise Makers'?

According to The Sun Newspapers, Wednesday, September 16, 2015, defending his delayed announcement of the Ministers, Buhari declared, that "The civil service provides the continuity, the technocrat. And in any case, they are the people who do most of the work. The ministers are there, I think, to make a lot of noise, for the politicians to make a lot of noise. But the work is being done by the technocrats. They are there, they have to provide the continuity, dig into the records and then guide {those of us} who are just coming in. They have been there, some of them for 15 years, some for 20 years. So I think this question of ministers is political. People from different constituencies want to see their people directly in government, and see what they can get out of it."

In some occasions, Buhari could be politically ingenuous in his choice of words, understanding how democracy works, regardless what the constitution says. According to Buhari, Ministers are mere 'Noise Makers'; which he has demonstrated since May 29, 2015; for the Civil Servants to continue doing the work if the Constitution allows.

Civil Servants and Technocrats across the universe are the strength of governance. However, Nigerian Ministers ought to have the charisma to sell government policies to the public. Nevertheless, Buhari could be naïve in wanting to convert civil servants and technocrats to politicians by his late announcement of the partial list of his Ministers, the 'Noise Makers'. It will be an act of negligence for the government to make Civil Servants accountable for selling government policies to the public.

In Buhari's opinion, the Constitution is wrong in making provision for the Ministers, the political officials, to engage in policy decision-making, allocating national resources to communities, groups and the general populace, to ensure the legal apportionment of society values or resources, not necessarily noise making responsibilities. Whereas Civil Servants on the other hand ought to be pre-occupied with policy executions. Possibly Buhari's choice of christening them 'Noisemakers', could be the yardstick to measure their competences, depending on how much noise they could make in their duties and responsibilities. Should they be addressed Honorable Noisemakers as part of the changes Nigerians craved for?

Buhari definitely knows his game plan by delaying the appointments of the Ministers till September 30, 2015. The delay could be part of the scripts to get rid of Olubukola Saraki as the Senate President, just like Buhari's 'party' threw Olushola Saraki out of his Senate leadership position in 1983; and in 2015 Buhari's party wants to throw out Bukola Saraki out of his Senate President position. We hope that the list submitted to the Senate is not being used as a bait for the Senate confirmation of the Ministers and bounced back on Saraki again; hence the short-lived Buhari's honeymoon could be over like a hot coffee placed in the freezer. Unfortunately surprises are awaiting the country on the outcome of the premeditated Senate issue.

Most Nigerians were shocked for the release of the anticipated Ministers, Buhari's 'Noise Makers', with some recycled politicians, which is like putting old wine in a new bottle. It does not demonstrate the change Nigerians envisioned. There is no room for the administration to give excuses about the handling over note which was given four days to the inauguration; it could mean that Buhari's twelve years' preparation to be Nigerian President was a hoax. Buhari could had penciled down who would occupy, at least the major important positions. The expectation was to introduce new blood and better ways of running the country.

Ministerial nominees: Senate sets fresh hurdles

When the screening of Ministerial nominees commences next Tuesday, October 13, 2015, it is highly imperative for the Senate to redeem itself of fighting corruption, earn the trust of the public, impersonal in the exercise, make the criterion for screening public, muster the courage to reject incompetent and morally bankrupt nominee. We expect the Senate to match qualifications, skills, and qualities of the nominees with their respective assignments; whether they are capable, or qualified for the assignments, not the cosmetic ancient screening of 'take a bow and exit', which is bad for democracy.

General Buhari fought a real battle to keep Nigeria one, as he is fighting hard to sanitize the country from the looters, in the best way he knows with his military orientation. Ironically the military got corrupted from the battle field, amassed enormous wealth from prosecuting the Civil War; passed the greed to the public service; when the most avaricious among them, took over, fully institutionalized corruption in Nigeria; for the half-baked Civilian-Military 'National Theatre Hat', could not fully eradicate it had the courage to design the bull-dog policy to fight corruption in Nigeria, unfortunately he was consumed by corruption; to a feeble incessant 'I beg' leaders which the Military cabal caged to continue thieving public goods; and the fourth trial of the New Sheriff could peg the extent of ranking Nigeria as the third most corrupt country in the Universe; but not using his Village Imams to sanitize the country in the name of cleansing the country; an average Nigerian is as guilty as Nigerian leaders on corruption.

Would the nominees, before the confirmation, declare their assets; as required by Section 120 of the Standing Rules of the Nigeria Senate, which indicates that "…the Senate shall not consider the nomination of any person, who has held any public office as contained in Part Two of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution prior to his nomination, unless, there is a written evidence that he has declared his assets and liabilities..", as also indicates in Section 11(1) of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, will be required for scrutiny by the Senators.

In addition would the nominees honorably withdraw their names if they have pending corruption cases before EFCC/ICPC, or those who have refused to put up any defense before any court of law, or judicial inquiry, or submit a written defense to the Senate before the screening? Should the Senate, in the process of screening the ministers, seek the advice of a panel of reputable retired judges to advice if any of the nominees, is fit to lead in Nigeria. Are they willing to take 75% pay cut, as a way of sacrificing for their motherland while maintaining good governance with less rhetoric or noisemaking?

Nigeria has not been able to resolve governance problems which lacks direction and focus. Recycling of sixteen ex-governors, who moved to the 8th Senate Session, as part of them to be screened as Ministers, is one of the reasons every attempt to address corruption in Nigeria is failing. Sponges do not clean themselves, neither do grease smear itself.

The released list include those that have been making professional or political noise, which could be louder in Aso Rock, or Council meetings. We thought Buhari would bring very highly respected, intelligent, and credible Nigerians we never heard of, who would not favor any individuals, groups, communities, parties, but the country on its thorny man-made challenges.

From the Nigerian Independence till date, 1960-2015, it has been the practice of recycling the same set of people, to the political offices including Governors who ruled their States recklessly now found their ways on Buhari's ministerial list. Unfortunately, the endless loop of recycling continues to retrogressively drag the country back; while the bulk of the votes for Buhari came from the Nigerian Youth. One would have expected that the younger generation would have been injected into the list.

Some of the recycled Nigerian politicians who have the recurring decimal in government are, Audu Ogbe (Benue), a Teacher turned politician, who was made minister by Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1983, while Olusola Saraki, (in the blessed memory), Olubukola's father, was among the Senators that screened Ogbe. Thirty-two years later, 2015, he would be screened again by Olubukola Saraki, the Senate President; what an irony of fate, for Ogbe not knowing when to throw-in the towel and give room for the younger ones. He should have the dignity and modesty to withdraw from the nomination, to start making another noise with his frog voice which would not be audible enough for the people. Without much time wasted, Chief Audu Ogbeh, dishonorably joined by some desperate 'Noisemakers', Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Chris Ngige, Udo Udoma, lobbying the National Assembly members for their appointments. Possibly Ogbeh could work with Nigerian Farmers for the unfinished Operation Feed the Nation program.

Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) should be deployed to the Niger Delta to face the problems he helped to deteriorate during his administration. Rotimi has a lot of cleaning to do in his myopic political calculations coupled with the alleged financial recklessness as the immediate past Rivers State Governor. Buhari might want to ask him again, the question he posed to him and Tinubu during the electioneering campaigns, when Buhari was offered another private Jet, "Where do you people get money to buy these jets?"; and Amaechi whispered to Tinubu, who was with him then, that "this is the type of questions that will be asked, when he becomes the President". Buhari should get closer to ask him to defend himself on those allegations of recklessness in Rivers State, if he scales through the Senate screening. Nigerians want to know if Amaechi, another 'Noise Maker', is morally qualified to hold any public office again.

Ogbonaya Onu (Abia), a Statesman, brilliant scholar, outstanding intellectual, accomplished administrator, prolific author and poet, first executive governor of Abia state and former national chairman of the ANPP, on whose ticket Buhari contested and lost the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections, needs some compensation for the huge loss of his domain to PDP, he could join Buhari's administration and start with his rhetoric alto-tone to convince the people in the areas of Science and Technology.

Dr. Chris Ngige (Anambra), a former State governor and Senator of Nigeria; should dust-off his Medical License to save human life in the Health sector.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), a fine gentleman, scholar, who claimed he never asked Buhari for any Ministerial position, even though he would definitely take it anyway. There is nothing wrong in compensating him for the lost in Ekiti election, he could be recycled to adjust the Foreign Affairs.

Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (Lagos), experience in handling Lagos State as an executive Governor could be recycled to manage Abuja Development which is an equivalent of a Governor.

Udoma Udo-Udoma (Akwa Ibom), a former senator who represented Akwa Ibom South Senatorial constituency at the national assembly made it on the recycled list in the face of his political uncertainties as his state is protesting his nomination, possibly continues organizing carnivals for Culture and Tourism.

Kemi Adeosun (Ogun) a well-heeled finance professional with experience spanning over 23 years, could be good for Trade and Investment. Born and bred in London, the Senate might want to find out why she was forced to resign at Bolaji/Balogun's Chapel Hill Denham, due to anti-company's activities, and the allegation that she misled Ogun State Executive Council by over-inflating the state's IGR as Ogun State Commissioner for Finance.

At the head of the 'Noisemakers' Team, would be Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kwara), APC megaphone; the greatest rabble rousing noise-maker of all time would fit in to Buhari's 'Noisemakers' club, to continue with Information and Communication at the Federal level. At least APC has to compensate him. Hopefully he would get two Senators from Kwara State to endorse him, since one of the Senate rules includes securing support from two Senators from the State of origin.

Nigerians welcomed individuals like Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (Delta), a group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC); who could share the Petroleum Ministry with Buhari. Also Aisha Al Hassan (Taraba), former Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, PDP Senator, initially predicted to become Nigeria's first elected female Governor, inauspiciously defeated at the run-off election on April 25, 2015. Possibly could handle Women Affairs. While Amina Mohammed (Kaduna) could probably help in the Finance sector. She would bring some experiences from the United Nations as Special Adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Post-2015 Development Planning; and other managerial skills as CEO and founder of the think-tank Center for Development Policy Solutions, a former Senior Adviser to late President Musa Yar'Adua and the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan on Millennium Development Goals.

Some of the unknown nominees are Sirika Hadi (Katsina), a former pilot elected CPC senator in 2011, possibly to manage the Aviation. Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Edo), as far as politics in Nigeria goes, and his name does not strike a familiar chord beyond the fact that he was the Edo State Coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organization. He holds an MD of College of Medicine Diploma, Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich; and a postgraduate Diplomas from the Teaching Hospital of the University of Düsseldorf and Essen, Germany, in the areas of Anesthesiology, General Surgery, and Orthopedic Trauma Surgery, who co-authored the orthopedic book, "The Severely Injured Limb" edited by John Ackroyd. Health sector could had been good for his qualifications and skills instead of Water Resources and Solid Materials to help the Edo Big Mouth Governor who refuses to remove the discharges in his eyes before pointing at others. While Abubakar Malami, SAN (Kebbi), a staunch loyalty of Buhari, a brilliant, studious and diligent lawyer, could be tipped to head the Justice ministry.

Filling up the list would be Abdulrahman Dambazzau (Kaduna), a loyalist of Buhari and a highly respected former Military Police Officer, could fit into Defence. While Adebayo Shittu (Oyo), Former governorship candidate of APC in Oyo state, completing the Lagos-Ibadan death trap expressway, started by his hero since 1999 ought to be completed when assigned the Ministry of Works.

Suleiman Adam (Jigawa), could stabilize the ceaseless labor unrest in the country. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labor Union is opening its claws for him. Others like Solomon Dalong (Plateau), and Ahmed Isa Ibeto (Niger) would fill in the gap for Interior and Transportation respectively.

An average Nigerian would be wondering why Buhari wasted Nigerians precious time to unveil the list of his Ministers, even though incomplete. Majority on that list are the identities Nigerians know so much. Old familiar names like Fayemi, Fashola, Amaechi, Ngige, Lai Mohammed, Ogbonaya and Audu Ogbeh, who worked very closely with Buhari during elections, were not worthy of waiting for a period of 120 days, these are people he could have picked a day after his inauguration, May 30, 2015. They are Nigerians and not 'Angels' from heaven, or some characters from another planet. The inability of President Buhari to have his cabinet in place, six months after being elected, may be the characteristic of what to expect from his administration.

San nu de aiki 'Baba Go Slow'! ! !

Femi Ajayi is a Professor of Policy, Management & Conflict Resolution, at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State