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How U.S. Newspapers Captured Cabinet Dissolution
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published March 22nd, 2010
- Washington File
- Unrated
THE popularity of Nigeria overseas was brought to bear again last week as news of the dissolution of federal cabinet was variously reported in the Washington D.C press.
Barely twenty-four hours after sacking all the ministers, an action that took followers of the nation’s political game by surprise, virtually all major newspapers in the Washington Metropolitan Area reported it one way or the other.
The Wall Street Journal reported the story with the headline, “Nigeria Leader Dissolves Cabinet,” stating that “Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday dissolved Nigeria’s cabinet, his spokesman said, in a move to reshape a government that has been left largely rudderless amid the absence of its ailing president.”
“Mr. Jonathan felt that he could not wait any longer an aide close to the acting president said,” the report added.
The Wall Street Journal went ahead to state that “ although Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest oil producers, analysts say it is at risk of becoming a regional basketcase that deters investors rather than attracts them.”
Investors will not sit comfortably with the heightened level of uncertainty,” Razia Khan, head of macroeconomics for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank, said in a note.
“While Nigeria’s core markets have been relatively unaffected by perceptions of political risk so far, events over the coming days will be very closely watched. Reassurances will be sought that some kind of predictability can be reinstated,” the newspaper reported.
It concluded the 20 paragraphs story by stating that “ in his few weeks of running the country, Mr. Jonathan, a former fish biologist, has been unafraid of making political enemies,” by demoting the country’s attorney general, amid rising complaints of corruption, and dismissed the national security adviser, after religious violence in Jos killed hundreds of people.
In its own version of the report, The Washington Times tagged it, “Acting President Dissolves Cabinet”
The publication stated amongst others that, “The powerful governors of Nigeria’s 36 states and senior ruling party officials should now put forward nominees for new ministers who will then be screened and approved by the Senate, a process that could take weeks.
According to the paper, “In the interim, Mr. Jonathan is the sole administrator of Africa’s most populous nation and biggest oil and gas producer, because as acting president, he has no deputy in the presidency.
The Financial Times published in Washington tagged the story, “Acting president dissolves Nigeria’s cabinet.” It reported in part that “the acting president’s critics have derided him as a pliable figure, or even a stooge for the ageing barons of Nigerian politics. But one ally said last night, “those who think this guy is weak, they are in for a rude shock.”
According to the publication, “rumours had circulated for days that ministers closely allied to Yar’Adua camp would be dismissed. But even some of Mr. Jonathan’s most enthusiastic backers did not expect him to take this step.”
Looking into the future, the publication ended by stating that “among the most closely watched appointments will be Mr. Jonathan’s choice of oil minister.”
Barely twenty-four hours after sacking all the ministers, an action that took followers of the nation’s political game by surprise, virtually all major newspapers in the Washington Metropolitan Area reported it one way or the other.
The Wall Street Journal reported the story with the headline, “Nigeria Leader Dissolves Cabinet,” stating that “Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday dissolved Nigeria’s cabinet, his spokesman said, in a move to reshape a government that has been left largely rudderless amid the absence of its ailing president.”
“Mr. Jonathan felt that he could not wait any longer an aide close to the acting president said,” the report added.
The Wall Street Journal went ahead to state that “ although Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest oil producers, analysts say it is at risk of becoming a regional basketcase that deters investors rather than attracts them.”
Investors will not sit comfortably with the heightened level of uncertainty,” Razia Khan, head of macroeconomics for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank, said in a note.
“While Nigeria’s core markets have been relatively unaffected by perceptions of political risk so far, events over the coming days will be very closely watched. Reassurances will be sought that some kind of predictability can be reinstated,” the newspaper reported.
It concluded the 20 paragraphs story by stating that “ in his few weeks of running the country, Mr. Jonathan, a former fish biologist, has been unafraid of making political enemies,” by demoting the country’s attorney general, amid rising complaints of corruption, and dismissed the national security adviser, after religious violence in Jos killed hundreds of people.
In its own version of the report, The Washington Times tagged it, “Acting President Dissolves Cabinet”
The publication stated amongst others that, “The powerful governors of Nigeria’s 36 states and senior ruling party officials should now put forward nominees for new ministers who will then be screened and approved by the Senate, a process that could take weeks.
According to the paper, “In the interim, Mr. Jonathan is the sole administrator of Africa’s most populous nation and biggest oil and gas producer, because as acting president, he has no deputy in the presidency.
The Financial Times published in Washington tagged the story, “Acting president dissolves Nigeria’s cabinet.” It reported in part that “the acting president’s critics have derided him as a pliable figure, or even a stooge for the ageing barons of Nigerian politics. But one ally said last night, “those who think this guy is weak, they are in for a rude shock.”
According to the publication, “rumours had circulated for days that ministers closely allied to Yar’Adua camp would be dismissed. But even some of Mr. Jonathan’s most enthusiastic backers did not expect him to take this step.”
Looking into the future, the publication ended by stating that “among the most closely watched appointments will be Mr. Jonathan’s choice of oil minister.”
