After years of ignoring the advice of those who had counselled against
the retention of Chief Mike Oghiadomhe as his Chief of Staff, President
Goodluck Jonathan, Monday, finally relieved him of his post.
THISDAY learnt from presidency sources that in order to give him a soft landing, Jonathan asked Oghiadomhe to resign.
His resignation was confirmed by the president’s Special Adviser, Media
and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who said there was “nothing extensive
to add other than to confirm that the chief of staff has resigned his
appointment” and it had nothing to do with a speculative report
published by an online news medium linking him to the allegation on the
non-repatriation of oil revenue to the Federation Account by the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
However, sources informed THISDAY that by asking Oghiadomhe to resign,
Jonathan had finally bowed to pressure to replace the former chief of
staff with someone who has the capacity to inject professionalism into
the running of the affairs of the Office of the President.
Oghiadomhe, a former deputy governor of Edo State and ally of Chairman
of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Chief Tony Anenih, had been variously accused of using the Office of the
President to dispense and curry favours.
Another source said he had bungled a lot of assignments given to him by
the president and had allowed pecuniary interests to influence his
decision-making.
“A perfect example was his bungling of former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar’s meeting with the president shortly after seven governors of
the PDP and Atiku broke away to form the splinter New PDP last year.
“Another one was the president’s visit to Sokoto at the weekend, which
was also mishandled when Oghiadomhe failed to observe protocol by
informing the governor of the state, Aliyu Wamakko of Jonathan’s visit.
“Instead it was the deputy governor, Muktar Shagari, who was informed
and received the president during the visit,” the source said.
Shagari had refused to move to the opposition All Progressives Congress
(APC) along with the governor, a development that automatically made
him the leader of the PDP in the state.
However, Wamakko, according to the presidency source, complained
bitterly of being treated with disdain during Jonathan's visit but still
made arrangements for a hitch-free visit by providing accommodation and
other necessary logistics.
When the development was brought to his notice, Jonathan was said to
have been livid with anger, and as such took a decision on Saturday to
remove his chief of staff.
Another issue that counted against Oghiadomhe was his failure to
acknowledge a request by Niger State traditional rulers to pay the
president a thank-you visit following the foundation laying ceremony of
the Zungeru hydro power project in the state late last year.
Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, was said to have expressed
his displeasure to Jonathan that months after the royal fathers wrote,
making a request for the visit, the Office of the Chief of Staff failed
to even acknowledge their letter. This again was seen as another lapse
on the part of Oghiadomhe.
On reading the handwriting on the wall, the former chief of staff was
said to have started packing his belonging in his office at the
Presidential Villa at the weekend.
However, Oghiadomhe attended one final meeting with the president
alongside other presidential aides after which he tendered his
resignation letter Monday.
With his forced resignation, the presidency source said this signposts
the preparedness of the president to implement a major cabinet shake-up
as the country enters another election cycle.
Speaking on the former chief of staff’s resignation, Abati said: “The
president received the letter today (yesterday) which was titled Letter
of Resignation and it said he wished to pursue other political
necessities in our great party.”
Abati further recalled that about two weeks ago before the president
travelled to Ethiopia, he had announced in council that if there was any
member of the cabinet or any major political appointee who wanted to
pursue some other political roles, such people should let him know.
The president’s media aide added that the president had informed
members of his cabinet that if they knew that they were going to be
really busy, and such activities might occupy their time, they should
step aside or come and see him for discussions.
“That you can confirm. It happened on the open floor of the council. So
you can see what I have pointed out as the reason for the chief of
staff's resignation is in line with that.
“As such, we find the speculation particularly by some of the online
platforms callous and completely unreasonable considering that this is a
man who has served and given time and energy to the pursuit of the good
interest of our country.
“Mr. President appreciates his contributions and he would like to put
on record that indeed he was a man who discharged his responsibilities
diligently and the country is very grateful to him. The president
personally would like to wish him well in his future endeavours,” Abati
said.
He however disclosed that there was no replacement yet for the former chief of staff.
Also, confirming his resignation yesterday, Oghiadomhe said he stepped down voluntarily from his post as chief of staff.
He also denied any involvement with NNPC as reported in an online
medium that he was sacked over his involvement with the national oil
company.
Oghiadomhe told THISDAY on the phone: “I resigned on my own. I tendered
voluntarily a letter of resignation as the Chief of Staff to the
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I read what Sahara Reporters wrote. It is absolutely false. I resigned to enable me do other things as a politician.”
He added: “How can the online report say that I was sacked when in actual fact, I resigned?”
THISDAY gathered that Oghiadomhe resigned to enable him contest the senatorial election in the forthcoming general election.
