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.