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| Former Head of Service to the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye |
The race for the vacant position of the Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan hot up on Tuesday with five candidates emerging as leading contenders.
Investigations in Abuja showed that those who had been pencilled in for the post included a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, a former Head of Service to the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye and a former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke.
Others are the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali.
It was also gathered although the President was considering picking the next chief of staff from the South-South, he had not ruled out the possibility of choosing a candidate from the South-West.
Barely 24 hours after Chief Mike Oghiadomhe resigned, the race for his successor became intense on Tuesday.
While a Presidency source said that Jonathan had already zeroed in on Oronsaye before Oghiadomhe’s resignation became public knowledge, another said Jonathan had not made up his mind on his successor.
The source, who insisted that Oronsaye had been picked, said Jonathan was aware that the news of Oghiadomhe’s exit would naturally attract lobbyists, hence the decision to quickly make up his mind on his successor.
However, an aide of the former head of service, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said that he was not aware that Oronsaye, who had travelled out of the country, had been contacted by the Presidency.
But another Presidency source said, “I can tell you that the search for the next chief of staff has not been concluded. Although Oronsaye is being mentioned, there are others, who are still being considered. Such people include Dokpesi, Igali and Nwuche.”
It was gathered that some of Jonathan’s confidants were insisting that the post should remain in Edo State. Dokpesi and Oronsaye are from Edo State.
It was, however, learnt that there were others, who felt that the President should shift his attention to other states in the South-South.
Another source said, “This argument has made some people to suggest Nwuche and Igali. Nwuche hails from Rivers State, while Igali is from Bayelsa State.
“I can also tell you that the President is also considering the South-West that has been complaining of marginalisation.”
The source also confirmed to one of our correspondents that in the interim, the President had directed his Principal Secretary, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, to assume the office of the COS in acting capacity.
Tukur is expected to ensure the smooth running of the President’s office until a new COS is appointed.
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