Federal Government ministers with gubernatorial ambitions have been asked by the Jonathan administration to make it known to allow the president to replace them by January 2014.
According to sources, while the presidency had been monitoring the activities of ministers and political office holders all the while, the president has decided to give them a notice, so that they were not caught unawares.
The presidency, according to a source, had initially compiled a list of the ministers known to have set up political structures in their states, adding that the presidential directive was aimed at edging the politically minded ones out without rancour.
The source said: “The president has directed ministers with political ambitions to indicate their ambition and turn in their letters not later than end of the month. The idea is that they will be replaced not later than January 2014.”
It further added that the president was hoping to start the New Year on a fresh note, while also expecting that the 2014 budget would not be affected by possible distortions in leadership change at the helm of the ministries.
At least nine ministers had been identified to have set up political structures in their states, ahead the 2015 gubernatorial election.
The administration already has their names but Jonathan is said to be waiting for their leaving the cabinet freely.
All the same, any of them who will not have resigned by end of year will be sacked as we usher in the New Year.
