Date Published: 08/15/11

Why Oghiadomhe was retained as Jonathan's Chief of Staff

Barr. Bamgbose

     As politicians continue to jostle for appointment into various offices across the federation, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocate for Good Governance (CAGG), Barr. Olusegun Bamgbose has attributed the re-appointment of the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, to his competence, loyalty and dedication to duty during the period he held the position.

    In a chat with news men in Aba , the legal luminary described the office of the Chief of Staff to the President as the most sensitive office in the Presidency, stressing that whoever occupies the position must be a tested and trusted ally who would not compromise, despite the pressure.

  “The position is a delicate one and must be handled by a disciplined person whose integrity is not in doubt. If you take a critical look at President Jonathan’s style of governance, you will be convinced that, when it comes to sensitive appointments, he does not give room for sentiments; tribal or religious. He has clearly proved this by re-appointing Chief Mike Oghiadomhe as his Chief of Staff”.

  Barr. Bamgbose also eulogized President Goodluck Jonathan for being a detribalized Nigerian who believes in looking out for people who are sincerely prepared to serve their country. “If he discovers that you are a material, he won’t hesitate to engage you irrespective of your tribe or political affiliation. This is what good governance is all about, therefore, we are not surprised by Oghiadomhe’s re-appointment. It was well deserved” he conluded.

  According to him, many people may be wondering why the Chief of Staff was re-appointed. The reasons are obvious. He is a a political strategist and a dependable ally. President Jonathan is a man who strongly believes in continuity as long as it would be in the interest of good governance. This accounts for why some ministers were retained and given back their portfolios.

   To realize the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration, Bamgbose further advised the Chief of Staff to be aware of the great responsibility which the position bestows upon on his shoulders. He called on Nigerians to rally round the President to help realize the Nigeria of our dreams, and submitted that there won’t be substantial progress if there is no collective participation.

 It would be recalled that after the swearing- in of the President on May 29,2011, the media was awash with reports  that Chief Oghiadomhe may not be re-appointed to his position in the new administration. Many names were speculated as possible replacements but as the proverbial cat with nine lives, the former Deputy governor of Edo state later proved pundits wrong with his emergence as one of the chief strategists of the Jonathan presidency. His political strength would be fully tested next year when the Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to engage Gov. Adams Oshiomhole’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the contest for the gubernatorial seat of the state which the latter lost at the Appeal Court in 2008.   

By Alaribe Ugochukwu