Raji Fashola

Former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has emerged the most powerful of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 36 ministers, a super minister of sorts.

In the portfolio sharing announced today, President Buhari handed the former governor the New and expanded ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

Under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the three functions were handled by three ministries and three full-fledged ministers.

But now, President Buhari wants Fashola to shoulder all the three functions, altogether.

“@MBuhari puts BRF co-ordinating minister of the nation, a super minister”, says a tweet by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi in a reaction that has gone viral.

In the last dispensation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the super minister of the Jonathan administration, combining budget and finance and earning the grandiose name, ‘Coordinating Minister of the economy’.

Jibrin salihu Jibrin, a journalist replied in another tweet:

@ToksAfikuyomi @MBuhari @AsiwajuTinubu @Omojuwa @aonanuga1956 @Funmilola Senator in this era,there’s nothing like superminister..

— Jibrin Salihu Jibrin (@jibrin_13230) November 11, 2015

@ToksAfikuyomi @MBuhari @AsiwajuTinubu @Omojuwa @aonanuga1956 @Funmilola His antecedents and pedigree got him that service..

— Jibrin Salihu Jibrin (@jibrin_13230) November 11, 2015

Apart from Fashola, other South West ministers also got powerful ministries.

Adebayo Shittu representing Oyo was given the Ministry of Communications, while Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State got Ministry of Solid Minerals.

Kemi Adeosun, representing Ogun state got Ministry of Finance, Professor Folorunso Isaac Adewole from Osun State is Nigeria’s new Minister of Health, while Professor Claudius Bamgboye will serve as a state Minister in Niger Delta Ministry