By Gab Efo
Since his inauguration on May 29 for a second term in the office, President Muhammadu Buhari is seemingly operating with most of his political aides of the first term in office.
Ideally, the tenure of office of Ministers expired on May 28 and constitutionally the tenure of the special advisers and other political aides equally ended same day.
While the ministers had packed out and submitted hand-over notes to their subordinates, the President’s aides are still holding fort their positions and offices.
For instance, some particularly the media aides still issue press statements for the president which appears as an official aberration as the president has not made any official announcement to their re-appointments.
There is, therefore, a clamour by many for the president to officially appoint and announce his personal aides which certainly does not need any confirmation from the National Assembly.
Before now, many had expected the announcement of appointments to key offices of personal staff like Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) and Chief of Staff (COS) but the wait seems to be endless, prompting Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, to threaten legal action to ascertain whether the appointees have been surreptitiously performing the functions with public knowledge.
Since last week’s announcement of the appointment of a new Group Managing Director (GMD) for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria’s national oil assets custodian, many have asked.
“Will PMB retain Mallam Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff?” Insiders close to the seat of power postulate that the announcement of the exit of Dr. Maikanti Baru as GMD came rather prematurely even though he is nearing mandatory retirement age.
This action has put the continued stay of Mallam Abba Kyari in danger as other camps in the kitchen cabinet are using this over-zealousness to push for the exit of Abba Kyari from the system.
For a possible soft landing, Kyari is alleged to be considered as Minister of Petroleum Resources stll occupied by PMB. Yet, this is complicated by the announcement of GMD of NNPC, Mele Kyari who hails from the same Borno State.
Incidentally, Bauchi State that has lost the position of GMD of NNPC and with the possibility of the exit of Chief of Air Staff in December or earlier is pushing for appointment of the immediate past Minister of Education into a key office.
Another contender for the office from Bauchi is Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) currently serving as Comptroller-General of Nigerian Custom Service.
“But the odds favour Mallam Adamu Adamu who is seen as a long standing friend and confidant of the President preceding the Petroleum Trust Fund days to be appointed Chief of Staff in this new dispensation,” a close source told Straightnews.
