Buhari to decide fate of ministers who withdrew interests in elective posts, says Lai Mohammed

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that cabinet ministers who showed interest to contest election in 2023 but later changed their mind to stay in government, will have their fate determined by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He made the comment while addressing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja. According to him, he will need to confirm the status of the returning ministers from the President.

“The other question about ministers returning or not going, I think you need to give me more time so that I can tell you exactly what the situation is,” he said during the briefing.

“Right now, I need to cross-check. I need to confirm again from Mr President what the situation is. You see the final decision on who is going, who’s coming back, who’s not going lies with Mr. President.”

His comment followed Buhari’s directive to members of his cabinet seeking elective positions in next year’s poll to resign. About nine ministers were affected but some of later rescinded their decision to vie for any elective post.

Before then, Buhari had a meeting with all outgoing ministers.

Aside the fate of the ministers, Lai Mohammed also refuted speculations that the Federal government plans to ban Facebook due to the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He said the social media giant has assured that it will take action against posts that incite violence on its platform, months after the government reversed the ban on Twitter.

Speculations about the ban on Facebook gained momentum in recent times following renewed attacks in the South-east by suspected IPOB members.

While several have been killed, security formations have also been attacked and properties destroyed in the region although the group has denied responsibility for the assaults.