Joseph Y. Chibok

It’s rather early but not surprising to see how some vested interests have taken needless umbrage against the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Gbajabiamila in recent.

It is not out of place to state the obvious that the recent media attacks and negative characterisation of the CoS were fuelled by mischief makers doing the bidding of their sponsors to cast aspersions on the person of Gbaja.

The weaving of negative narratives about an imaginary cabal of Gbajabiamila and Ribadu ahead of 2027 by a known hack writer, Jackson Ude, speaks volume of the extent to which some people intend to go to raise public opprobrium against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It is instructive to note that the series of attack on Gbajabiamila started with the unveiling of the ministerial list of President Bola Tinubu. It is on record that the President enjoyed a widespread support in the buildup to the 2023 elections, which cuts across regions, states, tribes and religions but no matter how generous the President would want to be, there is a limit to the number of ministers he could appoint in his government.

In any case, the appointment of ministers must undergo certain rigorous processes such as screening by security and anti-corruption agencies. And if history is anything to go by, the failure of former presidents to heed to the admonition of the security agencies has a way of boomeranging in the future. The Kemi Adeosun NYSC saga is a case in point.

Needless to say, that there are plenty opportunities for those who missed out in the ministerial list to serve the government and people of Nigeria. Accusing the CoS of conspiracy for certain reasons is a disservice to this distinguished Nigerian, who acquitted himself creditably in service to the nation.

The other day, a very senior newspaper editor had accused Gbajabiamila of “package tampering” of the ministerial list for alleged personal and selfish reasons. He even went comical by claiming that the CoS usurped the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate) by personally delivering the list to the Senate President.

This is a futile attempt to discredit the CoS, whom I believe is working closely with the SSA.

Challenging the new ministers 

The claim that Gbajabiamila was the first CoS to deliver ministerial list to the Senate President, as claimed by the senior editor, is also false, as the Chief of Staff to former President Buhari, the Late Abba Kyari, also did deliver ministerial list personally to the Senate President.

It’s important for the lovers of this administration and by extension, lovers of democracy in Nigeria, to support the CoS as his pilots the affairs of one of the complex offices in the Federal Government.

As influential as the Office of the Chief of Staff is, the current occupant of the office is discharging this onerous role with a high sense of responsibility, decorum and equanimity.

Managing and developing the overall structure of government along with experts, control of flow of people to the State House, managing the flow of information and decisions; directing, managing and overseeing all policy development are some of the roles assigned to the Chief of Staff according to Wikipedia. It’s imperative to appreciate that discharging these assigned roles and many more does not amount to forming a cabal in the State House.

On the contrary, the political class is expected to support the CoS with prayers and advice for him to meander through the labyrinths as his supports the President in the “Renewed Hope” Agenda.

As a politician of note, Gbajabiamila has enough capacity to fend off the media attacks but that will amount to a needless distraction from his duty.  I will advise those who feel dissatisfied to dialogue instead of mudslinging.

*Chibok writes from Abuja

The Star