Trouble looms as Amaechi,
Sirika engage in power tussle
– Sirika is said to be showing
insubordination to his direct boss,
Amaechi
– Sources say this may not be
unconnected to his (Sirika’s)
relationship with President Buhari
– Amaechi is said not to be
taking the acts with a pinch of
salt
– Aviation workers express
disappointment over the public
squabbles of the ministers
There is a mild war brewing in President
Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet between Rotimi
Amaechi and Hadi Sirika, Signal reports.
Amaechi is Nigeria’s minister of Transport while
Sirika is the minister of state for Aviation and the
pair are said to be at loggerheads over reported acts
of insubordination by the latter.
According to Signal, sources revealed that both
ministers were close to exchanging physical blows on
Monday save for the intervention of some civil
servants and aides who were at the scene of the
disagreement.
Amaechi and Sirika are said to be at loggerheads
over acts of insubordination by the junior minister.
Sirika is reportedly reluctant to have Amaechi (a
senior minister and direct boss) push him around.
But the former Rivers state governor is on the
other hand, not having any of Sirika’s acts and is
working to put him in his place.
The reason for the junior minister’s acts, sources
disclosed, is the fact that he is from President
Buhari’s Katsina north senatorial district, where
he served as a senator.
A source explained details of the incident to
Signal thus: “It’s all about power tussle.
Sirika thinks Amaechi is overstepping
his boundaries and should mind his
business as Transport Minister. But
Amaechi is also in charge of
Aviation.
“He is the senior minister, while
Sirika as Minister of State for
Aviation is junior minister. But Sirika
sees himself as the President’s guy.
So, he refuses to take directives from
Amaechi and now Amaechi is feeling
undermined.
“This has led to a big power play
between both men. It is becoming so
messy that even the official portraits
of both ministers are missing at the
airports. That’s why Amaechi was
doing maritime summit in Lagos
while Sirika was doing aviation in
Abuja.”
When contacted on Wednesday to explain why both
ministers’ portraits were absent at airports across the
country, Yakubu Datti, the general manager,
corporate communications, Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said: “We
are awaiting the official portraits of
the ministers. They are yet to send
them in to us.”
Pressed further on whether the tussle between the
ministers is the reason for the absence of their
portraits at the airports, Datti explained that
Amaechi’s portrait is at the airport, explaining that
only Sirika’s image was not present.
“It is one ministry with one permanent secretary.
So it is only the portrait of the senior minister that
should be there,” he noted.
Civil servants in the aviation sector have expressed
their embarrassment over the tussle between both
ministers, especially because they have brought their
misunderstanding to public glare.
A senior government official who pleaded anonymity,
said: “It is a shame. Both ministers are
embarrassing themselves publicly. It
is a mess. And President Buhari on
his part has been silent over this
issue. He should call them to order
immediately.
“The aviation and transport sectors
are very key sectors of our economy.
We can’t continue to have two adults
who should know better fighting over
the pettiness of who is in charge or
control of what. When two elephants
fight, unfortunately, it is the ground
that suffers.
“Nigerians are the ones who will bear
the brunt over this unnecessary
squabble.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians have asked President
Buhari to, without delay, remove Amaechi from
his cabinet over corrution allegations leveled against
the former Speaker of Rivers state House of
Representatives.
Amaechi was accused of diverting APC campaign
funds during the presidential election but he has
denied ever being involved in the said act of
corruption.
Sirika engage in power tussle
– Sirika is said to be showing
insubordination to his direct boss,
Amaechi
– Sources say this may not be
unconnected to his (Sirika’s)
relationship with President Buhari
– Amaechi is said not to be
taking the acts with a pinch of
salt
– Aviation workers express
disappointment over the public
squabbles of the ministers
There is a mild war brewing in President
Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet between Rotimi
Amaechi and Hadi Sirika, Signal reports.
Amaechi is Nigeria’s minister of Transport while
Sirika is the minister of state for Aviation and the
pair are said to be at loggerheads over reported acts
of insubordination by the latter.
According to Signal, sources revealed that both
ministers were close to exchanging physical blows on
Monday save for the intervention of some civil
servants and aides who were at the scene of the
disagreement.
Amaechi and Sirika are said to be at loggerheads
over acts of insubordination by the junior minister.
Sirika is reportedly reluctant to have Amaechi (a
senior minister and direct boss) push him around.
But the former Rivers state governor is on the
other hand, not having any of Sirika’s acts and is
working to put him in his place.
The reason for the junior minister’s acts, sources
disclosed, is the fact that he is from President
Buhari’s Katsina north senatorial district, where
he served as a senator.
A source explained details of the incident to
Signal thus: “It’s all about power tussle.
Sirika thinks Amaechi is overstepping
his boundaries and should mind his
business as Transport Minister. But
Amaechi is also in charge of
Aviation.
“He is the senior minister, while
Sirika as Minister of State for
Aviation is junior minister. But Sirika
sees himself as the President’s guy.
So, he refuses to take directives from
Amaechi and now Amaechi is feeling
undermined.
“This has led to a big power play
between both men. It is becoming so
messy that even the official portraits
of both ministers are missing at the
airports. That’s why Amaechi was
doing maritime summit in Lagos
while Sirika was doing aviation in
Abuja.”
When contacted on Wednesday to explain why both
ministers’ portraits were absent at airports across the
country, Yakubu Datti, the general manager,
corporate communications, Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said: “We
are awaiting the official portraits of
the ministers. They are yet to send
them in to us.”
Pressed further on whether the tussle between the
ministers is the reason for the absence of their
portraits at the airports, Datti explained that
Amaechi’s portrait is at the airport, explaining that
only Sirika’s image was not present.
“It is one ministry with one permanent secretary.
So it is only the portrait of the senior minister that
should be there,” he noted.
Civil servants in the aviation sector have expressed
their embarrassment over the tussle between both
ministers, especially because they have brought their
misunderstanding to public glare.
A senior government official who pleaded anonymity,
said: “It is a shame. Both ministers are
embarrassing themselves publicly. It
is a mess. And President Buhari on
his part has been silent over this
issue. He should call them to order
immediately.
“The aviation and transport sectors
are very key sectors of our economy.
We can’t continue to have two adults
who should know better fighting over
the pettiness of who is in charge or
control of what. When two elephants
fight, unfortunately, it is the ground
that suffers.
“Nigerians are the ones who will bear
the brunt over this unnecessary
squabble.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians have asked President
Buhari to, without delay, remove Amaechi from
his cabinet over corrution allegations leveled against
the former Speaker of Rivers state House of
Representatives.
Amaechi was accused of diverting APC campaign
funds during the presidential election but he has
denied ever being involved in the said act of
corruption.
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