President Goodluck Jonathan has relieved his Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe of his plum job, Prompt News can confirm authoritatively.
Oghiadomhe, a key figure in the present administration, was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to Mr. Jonathan when he became Vice President in 2007.
On assumption of office as President in 2010, Oghiadomhe was elevated to the coveted position of Chief of Staff to the President.
The former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Oghiadomhe, is believed to be a candidate of the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Tony Anenih, who played prominent role in Mr. Jonathan’s election in 2011.
It had previously been rumoured that the President was contemplating replacing him but for the intervention of the BoT Chairman.
After the weekly National Security Council meeting presided over by President Jonathan in his office on Monday, news flittered out that he asked him to resign.
Meanwhile, a source in the Presidential Villa, confirmed to Prompt News that Mr. Oghiadomhe, has indeed, been asked to quit.
However, a formal statement from the office of Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President is being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
Confirming the resignation to State House correspondents, Presidential Media Adviser, Dr Reuben Abati, however said the erstwhile Chief of Staff resigned voluntarily to pursue other political roles.
According to Abati, “Nothing extensive to say other than to confirm that the Chief of Staff has resigned his appointment and it has nothing to do with the speculation that one online has tried to put out.
“The president received the letter today which is titled ‘Letter of Resignation’ and it says he wishes to pursue other political necessities in our great party”.
He recalled that President Jonathan, had asked any member of his cabinet who may have political ambition in 2015, to resign so that such person can concentrate on his or her political future.
“You would recall that about two weeks ago before the President travelled to Ethiopia, he announced in council that if there was any member of the cabinet or any major political appointee who wants to pursue some other political roles that he had been hearing rumours that some people maybe wanted to go and pursue other things in whatever capacity, that such people are going to be engaged heavily in political activities, they should let him know; and if they see that they are going to be really busy, and such activities may occupy their time extraordinarily, they should please step aside or come and see him for discussion.
“That you can confirm, it happened in the open floor of the council. And you can see what I have pointed out as the reason for the chief of staff’s resignation is in line with that. So, we find the speculation particularly by some of the online platforms callous, completely unreasonable considering that this is a man who has service and who given time and energy to the pursuit of the good interest of our country.
“Mr. President appreciates his contributions and he would like to put on record that indeed, he was a man who discharged his responsibilities diligently and the country is very grateful to him and the President personally would like to wish him well in his future endeavours,” Abati said.
