A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Kebbi State governorship candidate, Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet by removing underperforming ministers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Nataro, a public finance expert and reform advocate, said while the President’s economic policies were beginning to yield results, a radical cabinet overhaul was necessary to strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He urged Tinubu not to retain any minister whose presence could undermine public confidence in the administration. Referring to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, he advised that the President consider redeploying him if security and public perception indicated risks to the government’s image.
“The President has recorded tremendous achievements alone, without adequate complementary helping hands from his cabinet, where about 85 per cent of them do not know enough about his policy directions, but rather sit like dead horses in a jungle,” Nataro stated.
He further suggested that the next FCT Minister should review and possibly revoke controversial land allocations made under Wike, in order to ease public tension and boost transparency, particularly at a time when Nigeria is attracting increased foreign direct investment (FDI).
On food security, Nataro urged the President to prioritise agriculture over excessive military spending, recalling a recent incident in Katsina where an Air Force strike mistakenly killed villagers at a wedding, heightening public frustration.
He criticised some state governors for mismanaging increased federal allocations, saying many Nigerians still live in poverty despite higher inflows from the federal purse.
Nataro also commended Aliko Dangote for acknowledging Tinubu’s economic foresight as Lagos State governor, which contributed to the eventual establishment of the Dangote Refinery.
On the debate around Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) crops, he urged Nigerians to embrace scientific innovation rather than reject it, stressing that technology and innovation were key to transforming Nigeria into a digital economy.
He encouraged Tinubu to continue showing zero tolerance for corruption while listening to constructive criticism from public intellectuals like Sam Amadi, Bolaji Akinyemi, and Farooq Kperogi.
Expressing confidence in the President’s leadership, Nataro concluded that a reshuffled cabinet of competent technocrats and reform-minded politicians would boost the administration’s performance and strengthen its case for continuity beyond 2027.