The battle for ministerial slots deepened at the weekend, with President Goodluck Jonathan withstanding pressure from lobbyists, bigwigs and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But the President has made up his mind on the choice of 32 nominees whose names will be forwarded to the Senate this week.

The battle grounds are Anambra, Imo, Ogun, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Abia, Delta, Kaduna and Lagos states.

It was learnt that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is pushing for his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello for the Ogun slot, but security agencies advised against it, citing the ongoing trial of the ex-Senator for alleged N10million fraud.

Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime differ sharply on the return of former Minister of Aviation Mrs. Fidelia Njeze.

The governor favours Njeze; the Deputy Senate President is seeking the slot for another zone in the state.

In Imo State, the people of Okigwe, led by a former governor and erstwhile influential official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are up in arms against the immediate past Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ada Okwuonu, who has been chosen on merit.

In Anambra State, the PDP is pitched against the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA).

PDP is seeking the return of former Minister of Women Affairs Mrs. Josephine Anenih. APGA has nominated a former Minister of Information and defeated senatorial candidate, Prof. Dora Akunyili as its representative in the proposed Government of National Unity (GNU).

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi favours his Chief of Staff Nelson Wike, but some Presidency heavyweights prefer a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche.

The situation in Delta State is also cloudy, but the President was said to have conceded the slot to his godfather, Chief Edwin Clark, who has up till Monday(today) to make a “good choice.”

“The President has asked Clark to weigh all his nominees thoroughly and choose one. But the elder statesman has not recommended anybody as at last night,” a source added.

The horse-trading also affected the cabinet plan in Abia State where the President has decided to retain the erstwhile Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu. He also specifically invited the Managing Director of the World Bank, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The World Bank chief is expected to “make her final decision known today.”But the power game has affected the ministerial fortunes of a former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, who will now be given an ambassadorial appointment.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo has opted for his ‘political godson’, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, a former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), ahead of a former Governor, Senator Ahmed Maikarfi and a former governorship aspirant, Suleiman Hunkuyi.

In Kwara State, the battle for the cabinet slot took a twist, with the nomination of a former Commissioner for Education, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, against National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, hitherto nominated.

It was learnt that Baraje may either be the nominee for the North-Central or be given an Ambassadorial appointment.

A presidency source simply added: “Baraje’s nomination is still one of those under ratification by the President.”

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The battle for ministerial appointments has turned dirty in some states and an amusement in a few others.

“For instance, there is a challenge in Ogun State where some party leaders and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo are pushing for Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.

“But security agencies have questioned the rationale of choosing a candidate who is standing trial for alleged corruption.

“And given what Obasanjo said in Geneva about low commitment to the fight against corruption, picking Senator Obasanjo-Bello will confirm the disputable rating of the ex-President.

“Another argument against the choice of Obasanjo-Bello is that an Egba man cannot be the governor of Ogun State and a Minister coming from the same district.

“Some party leaders also raised a moral issue against the ex-President’s choice. They claimed that if Obasanjo could stick out his neck for a Yewa man as the party’s governorship candidate, why can’t he do that for the ministerial slot.

“The ex-President did not stop at that, he is allegedly pushing for the candidature of a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Breweries, Chief Festus Odimegwu from Imo State. Odimegwu is considered a personal friend of Obasanjo in contrast to the benchmark set by the presidency for nomination into this new cabinet.

“The President has made his mind known that the era of imposition is over.

“In Anambra State, APGA is hell-bent on Prof. Dora Akunyili but most PDP leaders insisted on Mrs. Josephine Anenih whose contributions to Jonathan’s victory was unparalleled.

“Akunyili also has a security hurdle to clear over issues surrounding the declaration of the Senatorial election between her and Senator Chris Ngige in April. Only INEC report on the dispute could clear her as a nominee. Security agencies are already relating with INEC.”

“Regarding Ondo State, frivolous petitions against a former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, have made his name to fall under ratification but he is ‘highly favoured’ by the President for the slot.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “There is no state where the ‘war’ is fiercer than Imo where the people of Okigwe, an ex-governor and a former INEC official have kicked against the choice of the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Ada Okwuonu.

“Their argument is that Okigwe zone has been completely marginalised at the state and federal levels, with the outcome of the April general elections.

Investigation by our correspondent however revealed that the President has concluded issues on 31 nominees.

The Presidency source said: “The list will be sent to the Senate this week after final checks by security agencies. Mr. President will close this chapter of intrigues any moment from now so that the cabinet can start business.

“The rest is left to the Senate to screen the nominees. With the work done by security agencies so far, I think most of the nominees will survive the rigorous exercise.”

The 31 nominees are the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala(whose final decision is being expected by the President today); Dr. Tonye Cole; Ms Jumoke Akinjide; a former Deputy Governor of Niger State and Campaign Coordinator for Goodluck /Sambo, Nuhu Zagbayi; ex-President, NCWS, Zainab Maina; Bukar Tijjani; ex-PTDF Executive Secretary, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar; Arc. Mohammed Musa; PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali

Dr. Akinwumi Adefila; ex-Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and Yerima Ngama.

There are also ex-Deputy Governor of Imo State Ada Okwuonu; PDP National Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello; ex-Commissioner for Education in Kwara State Bolaji Abdullahi; ex-Minister of Transport Yusuf Suleiman; and ex-Minister of State for FCT, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade(rtd).

Others are ex-Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu; ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia(SAN), ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; ex-Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed; ex-Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi; a former Minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji; ex-Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai; Bashir Yuguda; ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Elder Godsday Orubebe; ex-Minister of National Planning, Dr. Usman Shamsudeen; the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN);Bassey Ewa; ace athlete and Olympic medalist Mary Onyali-Omagbemi and Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, a former Minister of Youth.