High-Wire Politics To Replace Kyari

By Chuks Ekpeneru

About this time last month, late Abba Kyari would have been in a position to determine who gets what in government.

As Chief of Staff to the President, he was credited with having a hand in the appointments of several heads of government agencies and parastatals.

But now his position is up for grabs and the rallying point this time is different.

Some have said the First Lady, Aisha Buhari is determined to protect the husband and avoid the rancorous relationship with Kyari. To this end, it is said that she wants someone that is level headed and friendlier and who would give her husband a better legacy.

It is also alleged that the famed Mamman Daura will determine who gets the CoS position. What that means is a continuation of the reign of the cabal and what is often referred to as the surrogate presidency of the last five years.

Nonetheless, the number of persons in the reckoning for the position continues to increase every day.

The fact remains that the President needs a very strong and efficient person to occupy the office as the appointee is expected to manage the president’s schedule and correspondences, and any other duty that may be assigned to him by the president.

Very important factors to consider in appointing the new CoS are the 2023 factor, the controversies surrounding Kyari, the perceived failures of the administration and the health of the President.

When Buhari decides to appoint the new CoS, some of the following people may be considered with the advantages and disadvantages they carry.

Among those being mentioned are Adamu Adamu, Babagana Kingibe, Mohammed Musa Bello, Buba Marwa, Nasir El-Rufai, Senator Kassim Shettima and Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.)

Adamu Adamu

Adamu is considered as a levelheaded person suitable for the position and been entrenched in the Buhari camp for a long time. He had acted as Buhari’s speech writer and was considered for the position until the last minute in 2015 and 2019.

Adamu was former columnist in Daily Trust and secretary to Buhari’s Transition Committee in 2015.

He is speculated as one of the top favourites for the position.

He is said to be incorruptible in his current position. However, he is not highly rated in terms of performance.

Threat

A major setback to him is the claim that he is of the minority Shite Islamic sect, a factor that could be troubling for the majority of the Nigerian Islamic faithful who belong to the Sunni sect.

Babagana Kingibe

A cat with nine lives, he always finds a way to bring himself into prominence even when he has been forgotten.

But some say he is deep in political intrigues and could upstage what ever political game his backers could be aiming.

As one political veteran told GreenWhiteGreen, ‘Kingibe is only loyal to Kingibe.’

Kingibe is, however, said to be very intelligent and highly connected with political network across the country. He is even believed to have a house in Enugu where he sometimes goes to unwind.

He is said to be the candidate of the cabal.

Threat

His disadvantages include age, impression of being the face of the cabal and his past political indiscretions against Chief MKO Abiola among others.

Col. Hammed Ali

Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) served as Buhari’s chief of staff prior to his inauguration as president in 2015. It was in an effort to shove him aside from continuing in that role that he was quickly appointed as the CG of Customs to remove him from continuing as CoS in the Villa.

Supporters of Buhari’s 2015 bid believe that that was the beginning of the demystification of Buhari. As CoS before the inauguration, Ali was said to have related with all the tendencies associated with Buhari and soothed and managed them and created that façade and charm that followed Buhari before his ascension to power.

Disadvantage

• His failure to make any serious impression in the Customs would count against him.
• He does not belong to any bloc among the power dealers in Abuja.

Senator Kashim Shettima

The senator representing Borno Central would come in to the job as square peg in a square hole. The former banker turned politician could come in as a compromise between the First Lady’s camp and the Cabal as he could be seen as someone who could manage both tendencies without bringing down the roof.

He had demonstrated that in his dealing with his one time political patron, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who he managed for three years before they fell out.

Threat

Senator Shettima is believed to have higher goals and has been mentioned for the 2023 presidency and those who have eyes on the spot could see his emergence as a threat to their aspiration.

Mohammed Musa Bello

The minister of the FCT would come in as a technocrat cum family member in filling the role of CoS given his long relationship with the Buhari family. He is the son of one of Buhari’s closest friends from Adamawa State.

Sources say that he is one of those who have been highly mentioned for the job.

Threat

The major threat could come from the cabal which would fear his possible soft spot for Aisha who is also from Adamawa.

Buba Marwa

Buba Marwa is another person who has been mentioned for the job of CoS. His emergence would possibly help to instill a kind of old boy military spirit as he relates with Buhari a former soldier.

Threat

Marwa’s political infidelity given his repeated switches to and from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is said to be counting against him. He is also seen as a candidate from Aisha’s camp and as such seriously opposed by the cabal.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai

The incumbent governor of Kaduna State unarguably comes in as a round peg in a round hole. His organizational acumen and foresight would come handily in projecting a positive legacy for Buhari.

Threats

He is considered as hot political potato. His principles had reportedly put him against the two major camps skimming to make the appointment.

He had in 2016 written a private letter on his objections to the cabal. He is also said to have not been very chummy with Aisha. Sources say it could have flowed from his stance against the principles that guided the work of the Petroleum (Special) Task Force, PTF where Aisha’s relation, Ahmad Sihajo was largely involved.

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