DURING the interim government under Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (83) in January 1993, the following were appointed as Ministers of State: Alhaji Isa Mohammed (Agriculture), Alhaji Bello Dogondaji (Commerce and Tourism), Alhaji Umaru Baba(Defence), Professor Ben Nwabueze(Education and Youth Development), Alhaji Saidu Isa(Foreign Affairs), Dr.(Mrs) Laraba Daggash(Health and Human Services), Alhaji Oladuni Ayandipo(Power, Mines and Steel), Mrs Emily Imoukhuede (States and Local Government Affairs) and Yusufu Galadima (Transport and Communications).

WHEN President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, inaugurated his cabinet on August 21, two burning issues were omitted in his speech. I am sure the issues must have been discussed at the ministerial retreat organised by the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the President felt it was no longer necessary to reopen discussions on the two issues during the cabinet inauguration.

I decided to play the fool, and a report was made of how General Magashi and I laughed when one of the lecturers amused us

DURING the intrigues leading to General Sani Abacha’s assumption of power in November 1993, Brigadier General Bashir S. Magashi was given command of the Brigade of Guards in September. He was a member of the Abacha Military Caucus that reviewed the military and the political situation resulting from annulment of the June 12, 1993, issuing a report titled “The Way Forward” with recommendations for a partial military regime.

General Magashi is going to be under severe pressure from his colleagues both serving and retired military officers