Goodluck Jonathan
A top the various external factors are awful internal issues that seriously threaten the president’s second term hopes.
Jonathan has a team of inexperienced and unskilled operators who cannot help him politically. Yet, they are blocking those with skills from coming in. Members of the president’s kitchen cabinet see themselves as the ones who had rallied the critical support that gave Jonathan victory in 2011.
But unknown to the president’s inner circle, his electoral victory largely came on the back of his own personal goodwill. Many Nigerians had been attracted to Jonathan by his calm demeamour, relative newness in the ruling class, and his Niger Delta origin, attributes that gave the impression of someone who was coming to do things differently.
That goodwill has, however, been largely lost.
The president himself has not helped matters. Being a regional player, he has found it difficult to break out of the seeming political cordon erected by members of his government’s inner circle. He views anyone trying to come in with suspicion.
The Kitchen Cabinet
Mike Ogiadhome:
The Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhome, has no political antecedents, except that he was head of a Rotary Club in Benin City before former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State picked him to be deputy governor. Igbinedion found Ogiadhome to be a jolly good fellow.
In his position as deputy governor, camaraderie developed between him and Jonathan, then a fellow deputy governor in Bayelsa State who was under an overbearing governor, former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. By dint of luck and personal goodwill, Jonathan rose to the position of President and Ogiadhome naturally linked up with his old pal.
The president himself has not helped matters. Being a regional player, he has found it difficult to break out of the seeming political cordon erected by members of his government’s inner circle. He views anyone trying to come in with suspicion.
The Kitchen Cabinet
Mike Ogiadhome:
The Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhome, has no political antecedents, except that he was head of a Rotary Club in Benin City before former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State picked him to be deputy governor. Igbinedion found Ogiadhome to be a jolly good fellow.
In his position as deputy governor, camaraderie developed between him and Jonathan, then a fellow deputy governor in Bayelsa State who was under an overbearing governor, former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. By dint of luck and personal goodwill, Jonathan rose to the position of President and Ogiadhome naturally linked up with his old pal.
Ogiadhome means well for Jonathan, but he cannot do more than that. He is unlike the former Chief of Staff to Obasanjo, Major General Abdullahi Mohammed (rtd), who belonged to the military top brass and had robust connections in the security, intelligence, and political circles.
Hassan Tukur
Principal Secretary to the President Hassan Tukur is a nice operative who has tried to cover for Jonathan. But Tukur has not been able to do much or has not been given the means to function to capacity.
Ahmed Gulak
The office of Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs is a weighty one, which ordinarily should be held by a politician with intense reach and political acumen and who can properly advise the president on political matters. But Ahmed Gulak, who occupies that post, is not likely to find a place even in the North's Third 11. He is clueless and shoots from the hip. Considering his political pedigree, the office seems to be beyond his capacity.
Hassan Tukur
Principal Secretary to the President Hassan Tukur is a nice operative who has tried to cover for Jonathan. But Tukur has not been able to do much or has not been given the means to function to capacity.
Ahmed Gulak
The office of Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs is a weighty one, which ordinarily should be held by a politician with intense reach and political acumen and who can properly advise the president on political matters. But Ahmed Gulak, who occupies that post, is not likely to find a place even in the North's Third 11. He is clueless and shoots from the hip. Considering his political pedigree, the office seems to be beyond his capacity.
Gulak came to the post of political adviser on the back of a sycophantic Goodluck Jonathan support group he had formed during the presidential electioneering period. He lacks the capacity to convene a meeting of the northern political elders.
Stella Oduah
The Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, was a contractor in the oil sector who rode to power on the back of a Neighbour 2 Neighbour initiative she had used to mobilise Nigerians across social, religious, and political backgrounds for Jonathan in 2011. When Jonathan won the election, Oduah made her husband minister and, then, sacked him and took over.
Even though it can be said that she is doing well, Oduah has politicised the ministry. She spends more time on Jonathan’s re-election campaign than the affairs of her ministry.
Oduah does not have the political pedigree to deal with complex political issues.
Godsday Orubebe
Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe is a former chairman of Burutu local government whom Jonathan had brought to the ministerial post under Yar’Adua from where he found himself in national politics and now in a position to determine what happens in the polity, even though he lacks the skills to really help the president politically.
The Octogenarian Group
Tony Anenih
Chief Tony Anenih is nice and wise. He was a major political player before the advent of the Jonathan presidency. Because of his political savvy, he was called the leader, “Mr. Fix it,” etc, on account of his ability to fix complex political problems. Anenih was brought in as Jonathan’s man Friday for 2015. But he is no longer in tune with the dynamics of the younger generation of politicians.
Though, Anenih has a calming influence on Jonathan, it is doubtful if the president listens to him.
Edwin Clark
The former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, is a one-man riot squad who calls himself Jonathan’s father. Clark was very useful in the agitations for Jonathan to be made acting president. He is a natural warrior that lacks the skill and patience for peace and diplomacy. He is not in tune with the pace needed to relate with the governors in their 40s and 50s.
Bamanga Tukur
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a prominent businessman, former Minister of Industries, and ex-president of the African Business Roundtable, an informal club of African business leaders, before becoming national chairman of PDP in March last year. But he is out of tune with the realities of the politics of the moment. He is more preoccupied with how to install his son as governor of his native Adamawa State.
Stella Oduah
The Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, was a contractor in the oil sector who rode to power on the back of a Neighbour 2 Neighbour initiative she had used to mobilise Nigerians across social, religious, and political backgrounds for Jonathan in 2011. When Jonathan won the election, Oduah made her husband minister and, then, sacked him and took over.
Even though it can be said that she is doing well, Oduah has politicised the ministry. She spends more time on Jonathan’s re-election campaign than the affairs of her ministry.
Oduah does not have the political pedigree to deal with complex political issues.
Godsday Orubebe
Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe is a former chairman of Burutu local government whom Jonathan had brought to the ministerial post under Yar’Adua from where he found himself in national politics and now in a position to determine what happens in the polity, even though he lacks the skills to really help the president politically.
The Octogenarian Group
Tony Anenih
Chief Tony Anenih is nice and wise. He was a major political player before the advent of the Jonathan presidency. Because of his political savvy, he was called the leader, “Mr. Fix it,” etc, on account of his ability to fix complex political problems. Anenih was brought in as Jonathan’s man Friday for 2015. But he is no longer in tune with the dynamics of the younger generation of politicians.
Though, Anenih has a calming influence on Jonathan, it is doubtful if the president listens to him.
Edwin Clark
The former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, is a one-man riot squad who calls himself Jonathan’s father. Clark was very useful in the agitations for Jonathan to be made acting president. He is a natural warrior that lacks the skill and patience for peace and diplomacy. He is not in tune with the pace needed to relate with the governors in their 40s and 50s.
Bamanga Tukur
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a prominent businessman, former Minister of Industries, and ex-president of the African Business Roundtable, an informal club of African business leaders, before becoming national chairman of PDP in March last year. But he is out of tune with the realities of the politics of the moment. He is more preoccupied with how to install his son as governor of his native Adamawa State.
Patience Jonathan
Wife of the president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, behaves as a co-president. She has great political skills in mobilising the women for her husband and has been very effective. Only if she left it at that. But she now oversteps her bounds to take charge of a state. If she restricts herself to the supportive role, she would be a huge asset to Jonathan’s political ambition.
Others
In the Presidential Villa, there are many who have the skills to help the president, but who have not been brought in.
Wife of the president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, behaves as a co-president. She has great political skills in mobilising the women for her husband and has been very effective. Only if she left it at that. But she now oversteps her bounds to take charge of a state. If she restricts herself to the supportive role, she would be a huge asset to Jonathan’s political ambition.
Others
In the Presidential Villa, there are many who have the skills to help the president, but who have not been brought in.
Comments
Post a Comment