Top level sources in the polity told Sunday Tribune that a plot was flagged off late last week following the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala in Abuja, where the woman agreed to work as a Minister of the Federal Republic.
"Some faceless people (mostly opposition political figures) are parading Abuja with a plan to stop the nomination of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala. They are lobbying some well known political figures on why Iweala should not be nominated as Minister," a source said, adding that some of those involved also include a team of businessmen who are afraid her appointment could hamper their businesses.
The source further said: "There are those who are doing this for commercial reasons, patronage or business. Some of them are afraid that her hot knife could slice off their usual butter. It is a serious matter."
It was gathered that when reports of Iweala's meeting with President Jonathan became public knowledge last week, those behind the plot intensified their lobbying and that they also started sending threatening text messages to her in the United States.
"They also started sending such threat messages to her people. The simple political reason for all that is their fear that her appointment will be of a great advantage to government of President Jonathan," the source said.
A former Minister, who is said to be strongly opposed to Iweala's coming into the cabinet was said to be coordinating the plot against her at the weekend.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Iweala's name may be sent to the National Assembly on Monday, even without a formal security report. Sources said that though the security agencies were still expecting her name at the weekend, the top echelon of the agencies have confirmed to the government that they were yet to receive a petition against her since she left office in 2007.
A source said that such information confirmation could facilitate the sending of her name directly to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Source:
Sunday Tribune
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