By Oshineye Victor Oshisada
“Time changes everything,” was the title of
Tummy Duncan’s song, recorded by Miki & Griff of Pye UK Recording. Truth to
tell, there is time for everything and, indeed, “time changes everything.” There is the time for a motor driver to
change the gear for effective acceleration; he cannot maintain the same gear
for too long in the old manual gear lever. A school headmaster or principal
changes his teachers for effectiveness, or even requests for his transfer to
another school, if it is necessary to do so.
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| *President Buhari and his Cabinet |
In the same vein, I am inclined to reason that
it is time for President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet. But because
sometimes not all the ministers are included in a cabinet, I shall generalise
by the use of “ministerial reshuffle,” instead of “cabinet re-shuffle.” Be that
as it may, the phrases can be used alternatively. President Muhammadu Buhari’s
ministers came on board after the elections of 2015. The size of a cabinet can
be large or small, depending on political and economic circumstances. Invariably,
in war-time, cabinet size is small. For instance, during the Nigerian civil war
of 1966 to 1970, General Yakubu Gowon, under Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s
directives, himself an astute political leader with stickler for discipline,
maintained modest cabinet size. Ministries were combined in one person -- Chief
Anthony Enahoro, another shrewd politician, had the unique opportunity,
variously holding Information, Labour, and External Affairs portfolios.
