Uncertainty lies Ahead for Yar’Adua’s Aides

Aides of  late President Umaru Yar'Adua  are gripped with anxiety as there are indications that they may soon be shown the gate by President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was gathered that most of the aides who worked with Jonathan in the Vice-President's Wing would move with him to the President's Wing, a situation which might necessitate creating spaces in the affected offices for them.

Economic Adviser, Tanimu Kurfi and SA Media, Segun Adeniyi, have already left the Villa on their own volition, even though Adeniyi made it look as if he resigned.

According to a source “ they are restless. Adeniyi's resignation was silly because as a political appointee, once your boss dies you are automatically jobless.”

Presidential aides whose appointments might be affected include the Principal Secretary to the late President, Mr. David Edevbie; the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji; the Chief Physician, Dr. Salisu Banye; the Senior Special Assistant on Aviation, Capt. Shehu Iyal; the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Alhaji Inuwa Baba; and the Senior Special Assistant/Secretarial Speech Writer, Mr. Mathew Aikhionbare.

Others are the Senior Special Adviser on SERVICOM, Mr. Ad-Obe Obe; the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Senator Polycarp Nwite; and the Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi.

Also likely to be affected are legal advisers, various security and household aides and several others.

Many of the aides were inherited from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had personally nominated both the late Yar'Adua and Jonathan, as the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2007 presidential poll.

Some of this category of aides, however, work in the Vice-President's Wing, notably the Special Assistant on Youth Programme Monitoring and Implementations, Mrs. Moremi Soyinka-Onilaja.

However, the source also disclosed that some aides in the late President's staff were lobbying to be retained in the government; and in doing this are advancing the argument that “a seamless transition could be worked out, whereby Jonathan inherits them, while the incoming Vice-President takes over the aides that worked with Jonathan while he was Vice-President, and later Acting President.”