Date Published: 06/30/11

Presidential Aides: Presidency still consulting, may name Aides this week

With the approval of the Senate, the President Goodluck Jonathan may name his Presidential Advisers and Special Assistants this week even as there are indications that key Advisers may be retained.

Sources told Pointblanknews.com that although while the President might retain his Media and Publicity Adviser, key names such as Reuben Abati, Chairman, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers has been recommended to man the office of Senior Special Adviser on Communication and Publicity.

Other names that were also recommended were: Oma Djebah, immediate past Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, immediate past Special Adivser, Politics to President Yar’Adua, Simeon Kolawole, current Editor, ThisDay Newspapers and Kayode Komolafe also of ThisDay Newspapers.

Mr. Djebah who was said to have earlier been recommended as a replacement for Sully Abuh who was Presidential Campaign Director of Publicity was dropped because he is suspected to be a key player in the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration and may be reappointed as a Commissioner.

Mr. Adebiyi did not make the final shortlist and while Mr. Kolawole begged to be excused because he needed to go for his Doctoral Degree, Komolafe was dropped from the shortlist on health ground.

Dr. Abati is said to have been presented to the President but inside sources say the President may retain his Media Adviser after all.

A source in the Guardian Newspaper told Pointblanknews.com that Dr. Abati was chosen following his 10 part article written on the Jonathan Presidency which was said to have been sponsored by Ima Niboro.

The 10 part Article which a source said was earlier turned down by another Senior Editorial member of the Guardian is believed to be part of the Public Relation work aimed at repacking President Jonathan as proposed by Niboro.

Presidency sources told Pointblanknews.com that while President Goodluck Jonathan is favorably disposed to an increase in presidential aides, he has mandated some top associates to rebuild and strengthen the offices of Special Advisers and Special Assistance for a more effective work.

Key offices sources say are dear to the President are: Chief of Staff, Media and Publicity, Power, Economic, Niger Delta and Security. While Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the President might retain his Advisers on Media and the Chief of Staff like he did with the Adviser on Niger Delta, the office of Chief of Staff might be broken into three with One Chief of Staff and two Deputies.