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Tag: Mike Oghiadomhe

  • For Oghiadomhe who makes people jubilate

    Chief Mike Oghiadomhe is no mean a personage. Indeed, he could easily pass for a great man if you judged greatness by a man’s influence, positions held and his vast means. On these scores, CMO (we will have to stick to his initials here because as you can see Oghiadomhe creates irritating spatio-temporal challenges for a writer) is actually a great man. For the uninitiated, CMO is the recently sacked/resigned Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan. The Fugar, Edo State born gentleman was deputy governor of Edo State for eight years (1999 – 2007). Going by this rich track record in public service, we can safely extrapolate that CMO must be extremely rich if not affluent.

    But why have the travails, the rise and fall of CMO and his material accumulations become an object of fascination to Hardball? Well, apart from the fact that Nigerians may never know whether CMO took a walk or was axed, numerous interesting side-bars have emerged from his exit from the gilded and much-coveted office. No, we are not talking about the many allegations of tales flying about in the wake of his exit. The allegations of inefficiency and other procedural finagling are of no interest to us. So what is so spectacular about CMO and how is his fall different from all other recently resigned/sacked ministers’?

    It is the small matter of people everywhere jubilating about CMO’s ouster as if they just won a raffle bonanza. According to the news which broke early last week, the staff at the Presidency where he was the chief were said to have broken into loud jubilation upon hearing that he had fallen. If you thought that may have been as a result of perhaps a strict disciplinary regime of his which often does not sit well with subordinates, wait until you read this.

    In far-away Fugar, CMO’s hometown, the news of his fall from grace was said to have sent residents into a wild jubilation. Let us take this quote from Vanguard newspaper in order to properly situate what may be described as CMO’s epitasis: “Youths and the elderly (of Fugar) were observed drinking and celebrating his alleged sack. One of the men who informed that he was a school mate of Chief Oghiadomhe, said: “I don’t take alcohol, but today I had to drink. This man rose to power through our son (Rear Admiral Mike) Akhigbe, but he got there and abandoned everybody, including the man that made him…””

    There is a lesson here for every man of power today to learn. It is better captured by the Yoruba saying to the effect that, “humanity is my clothing”. Made plain, it is an evocation that says it is always about the people; people, people and people. The people in your household, the people in your office, the people in your village, your neighbourhood, your church/mosque, your ward, your town, etc., always, a worthy life is that which is lived for the people, starting with the ones around you. CMO apparently never learnt that lesson, which explains why he lost in his ward in the last Edo gubernatorial election; which may explain why he will never win an election in Edo State; which explains why everyone around him is happy about his downfall.

    We all must learn that lesson here that power, influence and great wealth are nothing, if they are not deployed to the benefit of humanity.

     

     

  • Jubilation in Oghiadomhe’s hometown over his removal

    There was wild jubilation in Fugar, the administrative headquarters of Etsako Central local government area of Edo State on Tuesday following the removal of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, on Monday.

    His town people including market women danced around the community centre when news filtered in that the President’s Chief of Staff had been sacked.

    They commended President Jonathan for taking the decision to relieve Oghiadomhe of his job.

    They claimed that the President’s former Chief of Staff did not attract any meaningful development to the area since his appointment.

    Oghiadomhe’s town people maintained that the only visible legacy in the community was brought by the late former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe.

    “We are happy when we heard the news. Of what relevant is Oghiadomhe to Fugar people whom he has neglected? Rather he used his position to oppress and intimidate our poor people. Look at what late Akhigbe has done for us. Instead of Oghiadomhe to bring development to the area, he preferred to keep enmity with a man who brought him to reckoning in Edo State. For us, it is a welcome development,” they said.

     

  • Jonathan forces his Chief of Staff Oghiadomhe to resign

    Jonathan forces his Chief of Staff Oghiadomhe to resign

    Ministers to go

    It was supposed to be a normal day for Chief Mike Oghiadomhe. He arrived in his office, which is a few minutes away from President Goodluck Jonathan’s, at the Presidential Villa, looking forward to another busy day. It was not to be.

    A few hours later, he called his personal staff to an emergency briefing. He dropped the bombshell. He was quitting his job as Chief of Staff to the President – a job he did with great panache.

    Oghiadomhe packed his personal effects and left after submitting a terse resignation letter. According to the letter, he was quitting due to “political expediency”.

    But, some highly placed sources said President Jonathan asked Oghiadomhe, who many have described as his friend, to go. The Presidency said he left to pursue a political ambition.

    But, many were wondering last night what the “ambition” could be as there is no election coming up soon in Edo State, where Oghiadomhe is from.

    “The President received the letter today, which is titled ‘letter of resignation’ and it says he wishes to pursue other political necessities in our great party,” presidential spokesman Reuben Abati told reporters after many hours of silence over Oghiadomhe’s exit.

    Abati, who spoke to reporters after a meeting with President Jonathan, said: “You would recall that about two weeks ago, before the President travelled to Ethiopia, he announced in council that if there was any member of the cabinet or any major political appointee who wants to pursue some other political roles, that he had been hearing rumours that some people want to go and pursue other things in whatever capacity, that such people are going to be engaged heavily in political activities, they should let him know; and if they see that they are going to be really busy, and such activities may occupy their time extraordinarily, they should please step aside or come and see him for discussion.

    “That you can confirm, it happened in the open floor of the council. And you can see what I have pointed out as the reason for the chief of staff’s resignation is in line with that. So, we find the speculation, particularly by some of the online platforms, callous, completely unreasonable, considering that this is a man who has served and given time and energy to the pursuit of the good interest of our country.”

    “Mr President appreciates his contributions and he would like to put on record that indeed he was a man who discharged his responsibilities diligently and the country is very grateful to him and the President personally would like to wish him well in his future endeavours.”

    On replacement for the position, he said: “Not yet”.

    But sources gave various reasons why Oghiadomhe had to go. It was gathered that the issue came to a head last Saturday in Sokoto.

    Oghiadomhe was said to have breached protocol by keeping Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the dark concerning President Jonathan’s visit.

    Oghiadomhe was said to have written the letter on Jonathan’s visit to Deputy Governor Mukthari Shagari, who is still of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Wamakko, one of the five PDP governors who defected to the APC, not minding the breach, was said to have made adequate arrangement for the President’s visit.

    The President was in Sokoto to receive ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, who was defecting to the PDP.

    There were indications that more heads may roll in the cabinet following Oghiadomhe’s exit.

    Some controversial ministers might be dropped from the cabinet, it was learnt yesterday.

     

  • Why Oghiadomhe had to go

    Why Oghiadomhe had to go

    Former Chief of Staff to the President Mike Oghiadomhe was forced out, following complaints by some governors, influential people and associates of the President who felt that he was becoming “too powerful”, it was learnt last night.

    The ex-Chief of Staff was said to have fallen out of favour with First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan who reportedly complained that he was “not guiding” the presidency well.

    An insider, who is knowledgeable about the power game at the Presidential Villa, described Oghiadomhe’s exit as the beginning of a “far-reaching shake-up in the Federal Executive Council”.

    The source said: “The ‘resignation’ of Oghiadomhe is just a tip of the iceberg; it is a pointer to many changes that will come. There will be a further shake-up by the President.

    “Some ministers, who have arrogated so much powers to themselves, will be asked to go. Also, a few ministers who have become a burden to the Jonathan administration will be dropped.

    “The President already has security reports on some ministers allegedly cutting corners and their days are numbered.”

    Although the source was not specific, it was learnt that some controversial women ministers will go.

    The source added: “The President will shock Nigerians with the coming changes.”

    The source gave further insight into why Oghiadomhe was told to resign.

    The source added: “As a matter of fact, Oghiadomhe had been battling to save his job since last September. Each time the President wanted to ask him to leave, he had a way of surviving.

    “But this time around, the President did not give either Vice-President Namadi Sambo or any of his aides a faint idea of what was in the offing.”

    Asked to be specific, the source said: “There had been complaints from some governors, statesmen, political leaders, friends, and associates of the President that Oghiadomhe was becoming too powerful for comfort.

    “They believed that the former Chief of Staff had reached his peak and he was no longer giving quality advice to the President on vital issues.

    “I think those who should have timely access to the President have not been able to do so. This led to occasional policy flip-flop.

    “These aggrieved people have also had cause to fault the quality of advice from Oghiadomhe on the removal of some government officials. There was a time he appeared before the President with documents downloaded from the Internet to oppose the reappointment of a chief executive of a government agency.

    “In the presence of a former minister and a Special Adviser, the President was angry that there was no due diligence.”

    Also, it was gathered that alleged slow process in attending to issues might have led to Oghiadomhe’s exit.

    “I think the Presidency was not too pleased that the Office of the Chief of Staff was dabbling in issues which either the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or a minister could handle.

    “For instance, there was a time some heads of some departments and agencies were asked to submit their financial details to the Office of the Chief of Staff. This type of directive was a distraction for the Chief of Staff.

    “There were many state matters which were brought under the purview of the Office of the Chief of Staff, which ought not to be. For instance, when the Presidency-National Assembly face-off was pronounced, Senators and members of the House of Representatives were invited for consultations by the Chief of Staff. Ordinarily, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters should have handled the challenge.

    “At a point, the ex- Chief of Staff got involved in local politics in Edo State, causing a strain in his relationship with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih.

    “The bitterness within the PDP against Oghiadomhe reached a point that his name was omitted on the list of the state delegates to the recent Special National Convention of the party. Being a powerful Chief of Staff, Oghiadomhe managed his way at the National Secretariat of the party to vote at the convention. But his name was not in the list of delegates produced and distributed at the convention.

    Another source also claimed that the First Lady had been uncomfortable with the retention of Oghiadomhe as Chief of Staff.

    The source said: “In spite of the fact that they have been family friends over the years, the First Lady felt Oghiadomhe was not ‘guiding’ the Presidency well. She felt he could be put in another position in government.

    “I think the First Family needed a breather and Oghiadomhe had to go.”

    A third source traced Oghiadomhe’s resignation to “the calibre of experienced people” coming into the cabinet who might not want to work with him as a Chief of Staff.

    The source said: “You should not expect cabinet members like Gen. Aliyu Gusau to defer to the former Chief of Staff. There are other people who will want to assist this government that cannot work or receive directive from Oghiadomhe.

    “Some people also prefer the Chief of Staff moving to the North to create some balance and present the President as a National Leader.

    “This is why in his resignation letter, the ex-Chief of Staff talked about political exigencies.”

    It was also learnt that as far back as 2011, the President received a report from a team of assessors he put up, that the former Chief of Staff should be changed. But he decided to give Ogiadomhe the benefit of the doubt until yesterday.

    As at press time, it was not immediately clear who will take over from Oghiadomhe although the owner of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was last year short-listed.

    Dokpesi’s dream might, however, be cut short if the President concedes the slot to the North.

  • Jonathan’s Chief of Staff Oghiadomhe resigns

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe (Edo State) has resigned his position for political ambition.

    Speaking  on Monday with State House correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati denied the online reports that Oghiadomhe was sacked over corrupt practices.

    According to him, the President extended his appreciation to Oghiadomhe for his contribution on the job.
    He said: “Nothing extensive to say other than to confirm that the chief of staff has resigned his appointment and it has nothing to do with the speculation that one online has tried to put out.”

    “The president received the letter today which is titled letter of resignation and it says he wishes to pursue other political necessities in our great party.”

    Continuing, he said: “You would recall that about two weeks ago before the president traveled to Ethiopia, he announced in council that if there was any member of the cabinet or any major political appointee who wants to pursue some other political roles that he had been hearing rumours that some people may be want to go and pursue other things in whatever capacity, that such people are going to be engaged heavily in political activities, they should let him know; and if they see that they are going to be really busy, and such activities may occupy their time extraordinarily, they should please step aside or come and see him for discussion.”

    “That you can confirm, it happened in the open floor of the council. And you can see what I have pointed out as the reason for the chief of staff’s resignation is in line with that. So, we find the speculation particularly by some of the online platforms callous, completely unreasonable considering that this is a man who has served and given time and energy to the pursuit of the good interest of our country.”

    “Mr president appreciates his contributions and he would like to put on record that indeed he was a man who discharged his responsibilities diligently and the country is very grateful to him and the president personally would like to wish him well in his future endeavours.”

    On replacement for the position, he said “Not yet”.

    But a source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, maintained that Oghiadomhe was actually sacked and that issues that led to it came to a head on Saturday in Sokoto State.

    He was said to have breached protocol by keeping the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko (All Progressives Congress) in the dark concerning President Jonathan’s visit to the state.

    Oghiadomhe was said to have written the letter informing Jonathan’s visit to Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Mukthari Shagari (Peoples Democratic Party).

    Wamakko, not minding the breach, was said to have made adequate arrangement for the President’s visit.

    Earlier yesterday, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole was seen at the Presidential Villa heading to the President’s office.