Drama as new minister is prevented from shaking colleagues

There was a mild drama at the federal executive council (FEC) meeting after Stephen Ocheni, the new minister from Kogi state, attempted to exchange handshakes with all his colleagues during the weekly meeting.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo administered oath of office on Ocheni and Suleiman Hassan from Gombe state, at exactly 11:18am.

After this, the new ministers took photographs with their colleagues and family members.

Ocheni went round shaking all the ministers seated in the council chambers, venue of the meeting, but an official in the presidency drew his attention to the fact that he was disrupting proceedings.

Immediately Ocheni was stopped, the council erupted with laughter.

Ocheni replaced James Ocholi who was killed in a motor accident in 2016, while Suleiman took over from Amina Mohammed who resigned to take up an appointment as the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN).

Speaking shortly after administering the oath of office on the new ministers, Osinbajo expressed the federal government’s commitment to implementing economic reform programmes.

He said he expected the new ministers to join in the “herculean task” of turning the economy around.

Osinbajo said the government was focused on its cardinal programmes of reviving the economy, creating employment and fighting corruption.

“Our latest members of the federal executive council are Stephen Ocheni and Alhaji Suleiman Hassan,” he said.

“We welcome you to the federal executive council, where you have just been sworn in. From ministerial nominees, you are now ministers of the federal republic of Nigeria.

“Their portfolio will be announced shortly. From this moment, they will join the federal executive council and will sit in our meeting this morning. So, Prof and Alhaji, you will not have time to celebrate much this morning. You will have a full meeting today.

“The federal executive council is one that is committed to the very far reaching and reform programme of this government. That reform programme is contained in our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

“We have focused our attention on key areas of that economic recovery plan and we believe those key areas are things that need to be done to make a difference in the Nigerian economy and in the lives of Nigerians.

“Time and time again we have continued to emphasise the need for ministers to pay particular attention to all the areas that we have highlighted in the economic plan.

“Even as I welcome you to this cabinet, I congratulate friends and family who are here, I can only say going by your antecedent as contained in your resume, it is evident that you are deserving of positions held in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that you are capable of rendering all he task that will be given to you. The only reward is more hard work and I wish you the best as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”