Two more Ministers on Wednesday resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to pursue their ambitions in the 2011 elections, as Dora Akunyili did on December 15.

Ibrahim Bio (Sports) quit to contest the Governorship in Kwara State; Maina Waziri (Police Affairs) left the cabinet to vie for the Yobe Governorship.

President Goodluck Jonathan wished them well in their pursuits, then directed Special Dutiues Minister, Taoheed Adedoja, to also oversee Sports, and Minister of State for Interior, Humphrey Abbah, to also supervise Police Affairs.

Last week, Akunyili resigned to contest the Anambra Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). 

Jonathan replaced her with her Minister of state, Labaran Maku, who announced the latest resignations to journalists on Wednesday, after the last FEC meeting this year.

The next FEC meeting holds on January 19, 2011.

Akunyili to date remains the highest-profile Minister to resign, the amazon in the cabinet who spoke out in February during the uncertainty in leadership caused by the ill health of President Umaru Yar’Adua, who later died on May 5.

Her agitation contributed to making Jonathan Acting President, before he became President on May 6.

In her valedictory address to the FEC on December 15, Akunyili said: “Having reflected over the years about events in Nigeria and particularly in my state, Anambra, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed a defining moment in life when I should make the sacrifice of leaving a comfortable place to a difficult terrain in order to build a better place for our children.”

She said she found solace in the fact that she was moving ahead to see ways she could make her home state and the country better.

“I have therefore decided to join my Governor, Peter Obi, who is doing a great job in Anambra State, in continuing to build that state under APGA by the grace of God. In this regard, I intend to pick the nomination form to run for the office of Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.”

She sought the prayers and the co-operation of all Nigerians for a worthy partnership without which success would be difficult.

Akunyili, former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), was appointed Minister on December 17, 2008 by Yar’Adua during a cabinet reshuffle. 

Her tenure witnessed the introduction of Rebranding Nigeria Project, geared towards a new order of orientation, including charting a new course on the way Nigeria and her people are perceived by the outside world.

One of her key moments was the memo she distributed at a FEC meeting during Yar’Adua’s health crisis, calling on FEC members to be patriotic by asking the terminally ill Yar’Adua to resign.

Akunyili was also instrumental in completing most of the projects embarked upon during the era of John Odey as Information Minister, including building new Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) stations, among others.

But she was unable to actualise her dream of improving the welfare of journalists. Even her plan to increase the salary of journalists in government organs was an unfinished business.

Her entry into the Senatorial race rested speculation on her political future, which may mean an eye on the Anambra Governorship itself in the coming years.