In what appears an ugly drama that could mar Nigeria’s first transition from one civilian government to another, key members of out-going President Olusegun Obasanjo administration are plotting to either retain their present position or bag other juicy appointments under the government of his successor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
According to THISDAY checks, the Chief of Staff to the out-going President, Major General Abduallhi Mohammed (rtd) is among some key aides who have been exerting pressure on Obasanjo to make a case for their retention so as to ensure what they call “continuity and stability”.
Speaking after the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Frank Nweke, Jnr, said Yar�Adua had made a request to Obasanjo over the retention of the Chief of Staff to ensure continuity that would assist him settle down in office.
According to Nweke, “the President personally dropped the hint which did not come as surprise to a lot of us, and that is the fact that there has been very strong pressures and representations from his successor on the need for Major-General Abdullahi to consider spending some more time just to enable him to settle down.
“Of course, it is an appeal because the Chief of Staff very clearly had his own plans and of course it is something that is still there but the President was gracious enough to let us know about it and we hope of course that the Chief of Staff will consider this request from his (Obasanjo�s) successor,� Nweke said.
But contrary to Nweke’s claims, however, THISDAY checks reveal that it is Abdullahi, in his mid seventies, who is interested in remaining Chief of Staff to the incoming President and may have succeeded in getting Obasanjo to persuade Yar’Adua for his retention.
Although generally regarded at the Presidency, Abdullahi who had served under Obasanjo’s military government in the seventies, became National Security Adviser to former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, shortly after the president was released from prison in 1998.
Abdullahi warmed his heart as a loyalist of Obasanjo, according to Aso Rock insiders, because he briefs the president on a daily basis wherever he is anywhere in the world”
Presidency watchers, however, contend that Yar’Adua cannot claim to be his own man if he cannot make an appointment as personal as his Chief of Staff as key aides of the out-going president maneuover their way in the bid to get key appointments.
According to a top government official last night, “for as long as Obasanjo’s key aides remain around, Nigerians would see Ya’Adua’s government as no more than the third term of the outgoing administration which they all kicked against. He should do away with them. Nigeria does not belong to any clique. We need fresh faces.”
Meanwhile, Obasanjo yesterday presided over the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the life of his administration and declared that if given another chance to preside over the affairs of the country, he would do exactly the same things he has done in eight years.
The Federal Executive Council would however continue to exist until May 29, when a new government would be sworn-in.
Nweke, who made these disclosures while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting that lasted over seven hours and also had Permanent Secretaries of Federal Ministries in attendance, announced that �the cabinet remains intact until May 29�.
Nweke said Obasanjo had during the meeting that he described as �very sober� paid special tribute to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Ufot Ekaette, for their support, adding that �it was a very sober meeting because it is the last time and out of the original 40 people that started the second term only about 11 were left and so we had the most senior Minister in the person of the Minister of Agriculture, Adamu Bello. He actually conveyed our thanks to Mr. President for the opportunity he gave us to serve in his cabinet and for the inspiration that he has provided in the cause of the last years�.
The Minister added that �of course, Mr. President used the opportunity to say that given another opportunity, he would do exactly the same things he has done in the past eight years. Because he believes that what he has done, has been to the best of his ability, to the best of his faith and belief in our country and in the cause of serving humanity.
“And of course he paid special tribute to two gentlemen, the Secretary to the Government of the Fede-ration, Chief Ufot Ekaette and the Chief of Staff, Major-general Mohammed Abdullahi (GCON)�.
He also stated that Obasanjo used the opportunity offered by the meeting to express his abiding faith in Nigeria and his advise to all Nigerians to keep the flag flying by being patriotic and providing exemplary leadership at all levels.
�It was a very, very sobering time and Mr. President used the opportunity of course to express what is his faith in our country, in the potential of the average Nigerian, in the bright future of our country.
“He believes that the past eight years has been an opportunity to show that good things can come out of Nigeria. He said he does know that there are certain things that are not right with us and so he believes that, all of us, no matter where we find ourselves, must continue to have faith in our country and work in our own little ways in order to provide leadership and ensure that our country attains the collective national strategic objective of becoming one of the 20 largest economies by the year 2020�, he added.
The Federal Executive Council however approved the admittance of 88 applicants for Nigerian citizenship, the privatisation of the Skypower Aviation Han-dling Limited and received progress report on the non-remittance of taxes by ministries, agencies and parastatal of government; on Kubwa Housing project, National Child Policy, progress report on NEEDS 2 and update on the recent successful launching of the Nigeria Communication Satellite.
It also received reports from various committees that include the upgrading of the National Hospital, Abuja, Local Governments and municipalities taking care of fire service while the Federal Fire Service oversees them; Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and UNESCO, report on status of power supply in Nigeria, completion of on-going power projects, report on Small Scale and Medium Scale Development Enterprises (SMEDAN), request for funding for the fast track court system, the completion of the monoseleum of the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, progress report on the sale of houses in the Federal Capital Territory and update on port reforms and sale of ports.
May242007