There must be something fundamentally wrong with the position of the Chief of Staff(CoS) in Nigeria. In recent years, the position of Chief of Staff has become the de facto president. President Goodluck Jonathan’s CoS, Mike Oghiadomhe decided how the leadership pendulum swung. His successor,Brig-General Oladehinde Arogbofa did not stay long enough to call the shot. The late Abba Kyari, CoS to President Muhammadu Buhari was everything. He led the cabal until his elimination. His successor, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari brought diplomacy to bear on the seat. The emergence of the new President, Bola Tinubu has thrown up a new cabal with the teeth of a terror.
A new cabal, much more vicious, power hungry and corrupt has emerged in the Bola Tinubu Presidency, a report said. The Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, have formed a tag team, controlling the affairs of Government, shielding Tinubu away from happenings and forming a cabal that would sooner or later tear down the house of APC.
At the back of their mind is 2027 elections. Gbajabiamila does not see Tinubu either completing his tenure or having the capacity to run again in 2027 due to his failing health. His strategy is now to clip the wings of those he perceive might be on his way to replace Tinubu. Gbajabiamila found an ally in Ribadu. His calculation is that in the event Tinubu cannot continue, he would make Ribadu his running mate. But in the event Tinubu finishes 8yrs, and power is to return to the North, he would run as Ribadu’s running mate.
To achieve those plans, it serves him well to get Mallam Elrufai out of the equation. Elrufai’s clearance for a Ministerial position has now been put on hold. Gbaja and Ribadu are said to have masterminded that to keep the former Kaduna Governor out of the race for 2027 or 2031.
Gbajabiamila and Ribadu’s scheme have brought a major crack in the APC, and Presidency, especially with those who toiled day and night campaigning for Tinubu. There is palpable anger. Anger of being left out from the Ministerial nominations and others political positions. Those who were hitherto close to Tinubu are now so shocked how they were either left out or no longer have access to the President. Gbajabiamila and Ribadu have shut them out, leaving them In regrets.
In Katsina State, a very close ally of Tinubu, Senator Habu Ibrahim, did not make the Ministerial list and no longer have unfettered access to Tinubu. Former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, also lost out of reckoning.
In Ekiti State, former Governor Kayode Fayemi, an intellectual base of the APC, was left out. Same with a renegade member of the PDP, Ayo Fayose.
In Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode and Abike Dabiri were all left out for an unknown Lola Ade-John who is alleged to be a girlfriend of Wale Edun.
In Enugu State, former Governors Chimaraoke Nnamani and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi both betrayed their party, the PDP to work for Tinubu. They have both been shut out. They didn’t get a Ministerial position.
In Oyo state, Senator Teslim Folarin suffered humiliation from his own party, the APC, which worked against his Governorship ambitions and yet he never got compensated with a Ministerial nomination.
Bashir Lado, Kashim Imam, both long term northern friends of Tinubu lost out and shut out from the villa. Magnus Abe who was tipped for a Ministerial position alongside Nyesom Wike, lost out and shut out because Wike would not have him around.
In Bayelsa, Ebitimi Ambare lost out to Henekein Lokpobiri, a nominee of Wike.
Bayo Onanuga, Tunde Rahman, both very close persons to Tinubu lost out. In fact, Rahman who should have been made the Media Adviser to the President, was blocked by the duo of Gbajabiamila and Dele Alake. Rahman is now considering leaving the Government.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Tunji Bello, Babatunde Ogala, Ahmed Raji, Abiodun Faleke Senator Tokubo Abiru, and very close friends of Tinubu who have all been schemed out and shut out.
The duo of Gbajabiamila and Ribadu are playing their cards well, watching for anyone who might be a threat to their 2027 or 2031 Presidential ambitions. How long the scheming would last would be determined by the strength of their strategies.
