Changing ministers, a big challenge —President

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday admitted that it was a big challenge for him to change ministers.
He said it was challenging because like a football coach, anytime he made changes, Nigerians would expect more “goals” from him.
Jonathan’s spoke during the swearing in of two ministers, who were recently cleared by the National Assembly.
The ministers are Alhaji Kabiru Turaki (SAN) from Kebbi State and Prof. Chinedu Nebo from Enugu State.
The President said having realised some lapses and decided to change ministers, the only way Nigerians could adjudge him as a good coach was for the new entrants to deliver the “much-awaited goals.”
He said, “It is a big challenge on me and you (the two new ministers) because if a coach of a football team sends his 11 players and decides to make changes when getting close to half time, then he knows that there may be weaknesses in some areas and he is bringing people to strengthen the team to make sure they score goals.
“So Nigerians are expecting that if I am bringing ministers in at this time, I must be bringing people that will strengthen the team and I should make sure I bring people that will score more goals than we are already scoring.
“If Nigerians don’t get that more goals, they will feel that I am not a good coach.  If they get more goals, then they will know I am a good coach.
“So it is quite challenging for me bringing you in at this time and also to you because they will expect you to perform extremely well.
“Just like when the coach introduces sometimes 10 minutes to the end of the game and you are introduced to the field, they expect you to score the next goal.”
Jonathan however expressed the confidence that with the profile of the new ministers, they would succeed in their new assignment.
The President however took the gathering by surprise when he announced that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, would later communicate the portfolios of the new ministers to them.
There has been tension among the old ministers over possible minor cabinet reshuffle with the entrance of the new ministers.
The tension was heightened when seats were not marked for each minister at the Council Chambers venue of the swearing-in on Monday.