by Alexander O. Onukwue
The official account from the meeting between Aisha Alhassan and some members of the APC state that the discussions were free of any fracas and that she has accepted that her “indiscretion” was inappropriate.
Some other unofficial accounts suggest that there was a bit of raging within the meeting room, with the APC officers present expressing the view that the Minister could no longer be trusted. Her decision to state that she will oppose a Buhari campaign for a second term in 2019 may not have been thought through but it does not appear the Minister will take it back.
For now, President Buhari has not moved to dismiss her. She attended his first FEC meeting since the week before May the 7th, with photographs showing good rapport with other members of the cabinet. She also has made announcements about the next phase of the Chibok girl’s re-integration into society, giving the impression that she is going about her normal duties as Minister of Women Affairs.
But for how long? It is clear that she is not the most die-hard supporter of the President and will be a lame-duck Minister as soon as Atiku declares his intention to run. Will the authorities in the APC aggrieved by her actions hold on to their desire to see her gone till there is more reason to do so?
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