Over time the creation of the office of the chief of staff to the President by the then President H.E Olusegun Obasanjo fashioned after the united states of America wherein the occupants are expected to do the biddings of the President has evolved.
With the Pioneer occupant being Abdullahi Mohammed from 1999-2008 and inherited by H.E Musa Yar’adua until his voluntary resignation, handing over to his deputy Mr.Gbolade Osinowo for a brief period thereafter the cancellation of the entire office by Mr President H.E Yar’adua for the duration of his tenure.
Upon his sudden demise his Vice who the rein of affairs fell upon reopened the office the chief of Staff with the appointment of Chief Michael Oghiadome who was an erstwhile Deputy Governor of Edo state and a loyal ally to the now President H.E Goodluck Jonathan dating back to theirs days as Governor and deputy Governor respectively till his days as the vice President.
In 2014 however the reign of H.E Michael Oghiadome which spanned four years 2010-2014, came to an end upon his voluntary resignation.
The next appointment by Mr President H.E Goodluck Jonathan fell on Retired Brigadier General Jonah Arogbofa a seasoned officer of the revered Signal corps who trained at the prestigious United States of America Command and Staff college in Kansas who’s rein lasted only one year 2014-2015.
The victory of the opposition party in the 2015 polls, heralded the end of the reign of Gen. Arogbofa and subsequent appointment of Abba Kyari, an undisputed ardent loyalist to Mr President H.E Muhammadu Buhari heralding the metamorphosis of the hitherto seemingly unsung office to that of a Power broking system, one which Nigerians from all works of life have come to be interested in.
The rein of Alhaji Abba Kyari spanned two tenures but was sadly cut short by his untimely demise in 2020 by the deadly Corona Virus, paving way for the appointment of Mr Ibrahim A Gambari;A seasoned scholar and diplomat with undeniable enviable experience in diplomacy and strategy.
Mr Gambari unarguably will hold sway till the end of this tenure.
As we transit to the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu it is imperative to ensure the dividends of democracy is served Nigerians irrespective of creed and tribe in line with the Renewed Hope promised that sealed the victory of Mr President Elect at the February 25th 2023 election.
A close analytical view of the rumored contenders can therefore not be overemphasized.
H.E Babatunde Raji Fashola a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an Economist who is the youngest elected Governor of Lagos State is a rumored top contender to this office and loyalist to Mr President Elect hitherto who held the same position in Lagos state when Mr President Elect held sway as the Chief Executive of the state.
He went on to become the Executive Governor of Lagos state where from he ascended the position of Honorable Minister of an unprecedented Merger of The Power and Housing Ministry’s. A position he holds till date.
The next rumored contender, Rt.Hon Femi Gbajabiamila is a seasoned legislator, representing Surulere 1 counstituency since 2003 till date, lawyer by profession, loyalist whose denial at his first attempt to lead the federal house of representatives was thwarted by a calculated plot but later regained making him the Enviable Number Four Citizen of the Most populous state in Africa. A position he holds till date. He has a successful legal career.
Last but in no wise the least of the rumored contenders is Rt. Hon James Abiodun Faleke, the immediate past secretary of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council,a representative of Ikeja constituency in the Green chamber and an acclaimed core loyalist who served as the Secretary to the Presidential Campaign Council of Mr President Elect, a position that cost him so much enemies due to his Firm stance to do all within his means to protect the interest of his Principal
A decision that didn’t go well with political merchants thereby earning him both spoken and unspoken enemies.
A rumored die hard loyalist who gave his all in his service to as the pioneer Executive Secretary of Ojodu LCDA, of Lagos State from 2003-2011 where his inherent hard work, loyalty and commitment traits would have endeared him to his boss and mentor Mr President Elect. Due to his qualities of unconditional service he was nominated to represent Ikeja federal constituency at the Green chambers in 2011 and won. He held sway until 2015 when he ran as the deputy Governor for kogi state, contrary to widespread expectations his loyalty and commitment to his mentor increased.
Rt. Hon James Abiodun Faleke a rumored astute administrator of high repute with excellent management skills of both men and resources, conversant with the understanding of the Nigerian political terrain having contested as a running mate to Abubakar Audu of blessed memory for the position of Governor and deputy Governor respectively and won the majority votes but bowed to Party Supremacy by transferring votes cast to the incumbent Governor of Kogi State.
His stewardship earned him reelection to the federal House of representatives with him sponsoring Bill’s that cut across insurance coverage for youth corpers, abuse of military apparatus, border security etc. a position he holds till date.
To date aside from his Representation of the good people of Ikeja constituency he has held no federal appointment.
It will therefore not be an over assumption in line with the reward system assured by Mr President Elect to party faithful’s to see Rt.Hon James Abiodun Faleke’s name top the list given his antecedents of loyalty, commitment and hard work which earned him the title ‘committed” one by Mr President Elect himself and the Royal blessings of ‘omoluabi” by no other than the Revered Oba of Lagos.
_Eya Ogli-Okorafor is the Convener; The Progressive Initiatives For The Realization Of 2023 Presidency_
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