After weeks of speculation, President Bola Tinubu finally names Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hön. Femi Gbajabiamila, as his substantive Chief of Staff.
The appointment came after a series of meetings, including one with members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) at the State House Abuja where the announcement was made.
According to a statement issued by the Director, State House Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Friday, the President also named former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to the President.
Only yesterday Hon. Gbajabiamila had dismissed reports of his purported appointment as Chief of Staff to the President saying people should be patient and watch the system work.
Gbajabiamila who was at the villa with the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, to meet with the President was asked by reporters to comment on stories that he had been appointed CoS to the President.
“Be patient, be patient, the system works in its own way. Let’s allow the system to work,” he said. Asked if it would be announced before the close of day, he said: “We’ll see, we’ll see, we’ll see. Thank you very much.”
Sen. Lawan however responded that, “First of all, I pray that it comes to pass. If that happens, Mr president would have made a very wise decision. At this moment, you need a chief of staff with very versed experience in the area of legislation, in the area of cooperating with the executive which the speaker spear-headed from the house.
“He has a very good network and the support that is required. And when that happens, you know this administration is going to be the administration of the legislators.
“You have a president who was a senator, a vice president who was a senator and of course our potential chief of staff designate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, is somebody who has been in the National Assembly for 20 years.
“So, this administration should have no difficulty relating with the 10th National Assembly because all of them have passed through the National Assembly system and they know what the sentiments and the sensibilities of members of the National Assembly are.
“And I hope that they will take it to the next level because the National Assembly has been vilified necessarily and unfairly for some things. For me, I take that calmly whenever we are called names because everything has a price. If you don’t perform, you have a name to be called, if you perform, they say you are a rubber stamp. But, whichever name, what is crucial is for you to perform your service in the national interest.
“And I’m sure that the appointment as chief of staff to Mr president will be a very welcome idea to many.
“So, I wish my brother well and wish that he will become the chief of staff and in advance, I pray for almighty God to guide him and protect him in his new job. Being a gatekeeper is not going to be an easy job.”
