BARRING any last minute change, President Goodluck Jonathan will, anytime from today, send the list of his ministerial nominees to the Senate for official confirmation.
A presidency source, who disclosed this to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Sunday, said the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) were already working round the clock to vet all the nominees for clearance.
The source revealed that the list being kept under wraps by President Jonathan comprises technocrats, members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), while some members of the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) also made the list.
The source said that women were adequately represented, as no fewer than eight of them were said to be on the list.
The source further hinted that the president also used his discretion in selecting the nominees, especially in the South- West, where names of nominees had generated controversies, as he was said to have picked names outside the list submitted to him from the state chapter of the party in the zone.
This is coming just as lobbyists who invaded Abuja before the inauguration of President Jonathan's administration to seek for political appointment for themselves, wives, children, relatives and cronies are still staying back in Abuja, pursuing their ambition and waiting for the official release of the ministerial list and other board appointments.
Most of the lobbyists are staying in various hotels where they are making consultations, with their sources in the Presidential Villa to confirm whether they make the final list.
Findings revealed that the lobbyists were said to be mounting pressure on those who had the ears of President Jonathan, especially the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the acting national chairman of the PDP, Dr Bello Mohammed and other close associates of the president.
The source said: "I can confirm to you confidently that the final list of the ministerial nominees is almost ready."
Source: Tribune