Jonathan suspends Interior minister

President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Iheanacho.

Mr Iheanacho has been directed to hand over to his counterpart in the Ministry of Labour, Emeka Wogu, who will, in addition to his present portfolio, oversee that ministry.

This development may be connected with the protests in some parts of the country after Mr Jonathan was announced winner of the presidential polls. It may also be seen as the beginning of an imminent shakeup of his cabinet.

The Imo State born minister, a retired Navy Captain, was appointed substantive Minister of Interior on April 6, 2010, when Mr.Jonathan, as Acting President, announced his new cabinet

A statement by the spokesman to the president, Ima Niboro, said that the suspension comes "as a result of a number of lapses in the political leadership of the ministry traceable to his personal and official conduct. For now, his continued manning of the ministry is not in the interest of the nation."