Headline

Abba Kyari’s Shoes: Who Steps In?

Published

5 years ago

May 2, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It’s almost six weeks since the office of the Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria was made vacant owing to the illness and subsequent death of the immediate past CoS, Malam Abba Kyari between March 24 when he was diagnosed of Coronavirus, and April 17 when he eventually died. As at date, President Muhammadu Buhari has not bothered to name a replacement in as much as speculations have been channelled to certain ‘powerful’ individuals in government; individuals who are touted to be equally loyal to a fault like the late former CoS.

Abba Kyari, many believed, wore the office like a second skin, administering at the beck and call of his principal and utilising every opportunity like a collosus. In fact, a lot believed he was the de facto president albeit the unofficial vice president. He was by all intent and purpose a man after Buhari’s heart. Little wonder Buhari penned a heart rendering tribute at his death, describing him ‘the best of us’.

However, as Buhari dilly dallies over the choice of a replacement, speculations are rife as to who will filled the big loyal-intensive shoes of Abba Kyari. These speculations and permutations are consequent upon the overt or covert level of loyalty expressed by the individuals as well as the strength of their hold on President Buhari as a person and the presidency as an entity.

“On the list are the current Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 2007 to 2008 and former vice presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12,1993 presidential elections, Babagana Kingibe. Others are the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, and former military governor of Lagos State and Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd).”

The Boss turns its lens to the men who may be considered to wear Abba Kyari’s big shoes:

ISMAILA ISA FUTUA

A member of the Order of Federal Republic OFR, Ismaila Isa Funtua is an accomplished politician and businessman, whose son is married to President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter; a credential that gives him a little edge above other contestants.

Born in Funtua, he attended the Federal Training Centre in Kaduna as well as Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Manchester, and has served in various technical, administrative and commanding capacities. Among many other port folios he has held, Funtua was the Monitor General of the Course 9, at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru. He was an Administrative Officer at the Katsina Native Authority and was a personnel manager at United Textiles Limited. He later served as a federal minister in the Second Republic.

He is the founder and chairman of Bulet Construction Company (the largest wholly owned indigenous construction company), owner of Blueprint Newspaper, and life patron of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria. He has cultivated clients, business associates and friends who have extended his interests beyond the normal scope of a businessman.

However, Funtua is not keen on becoming the next CoS as a result of his age and level. He maintained that he has surfaced the CoS position. He him:

“I heard people mentioning my name to replace Abba Kyari… But I take the story as an insult instead… I have once worked with government in the 80s, worked with white men and also was once a Minister of the Federal republic… For someone to mention my name for that position is an insult especially for a man who served as a Minister nearly 40 years ago and out of Government.

“I should be employing people now not trying to struggle for government appointment… At my level and age people should first see if am fit to serve and see if am strong enough and if am up-to-date with current realities of governance.”

We see reason with him.

BABAGANA KINGIBE

Probably the one with the most impressive and intimidating profile among all considered, Baba Gana Kingibe GCON, a Kanuri from Borno State, was born on June 25, 1945 to the family of Mustafa Shuwa and Ya Kingi Mallam. He has practically seen all there is to see in governance, politics and diplomacy. He is seen also as a powerful figure in the Buhari government, and a member of the so called cabal running things in Aso Rock.

Though most Nigerians refer to him as a turncoat based on the role he played post June 12 crisis, Kingibe’s profile speaks larger than life. He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Internal Affairs from 1995 to 1997, Minister of Power and Steel from 1997 to 1998; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 2007 to 2008. In 1993 Nigerian presidential election, he was the vice presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party.

Kingibe later attended the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.

In 1969, he was employed by the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. Kingibe left the university towards the end of the Nigerian Civil War, and became head of the current affairs department at the Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria (BCNN).

In 1972, he joined the Nigerian Foreign Service where his first posting was the Nigerian High Commission in London as a senior political counsellor and later became the head of the political desk.

In 1981, at the age of 36, he was appointed the Nigerian Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus. Kingibe was later appointed the Nigerian Ambassador to Pakistan by General Ibrahim Babangida.

He was selected by MKO Abiola as Vice-presidential running mate, creating a Muslim-Muslim ticket which was initially thought to be a deal breaker in the general elections. The pair won the electoral majority although the result was annulled by abdicating president General Ibrahim Babangida.

Kingibe later joined the Abacha administration as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Internal Affairs from 1995 to 1997, and Minister of Power and Steel from 1997 to 1998.

In June 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He was unceremoniously removed from office on September 8, 2008 by the President Umaru Yar’Adua, after spreading rumors about the President’s ill-health while believed to be contending for the presidency.

Report has it that Kingibe has been performing the CoS duties ever since Abba Kyari was sidelined by illness and eventual death. But Kingibe is 75 years already.

ADAMU ADAMU

The current Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu is a surprise entrant into the contest for the vacant Chief of Staff. He is a known accountant and journalist.

Born on May 25, 1956 in Azare, he has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. He later received a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University’s School of Journalism. He is a prolific polyglot, speaking six languages fluently – Arabic, Persian, Fulfulde, Hausa, English and French.

Adamu has worked as an accountant in Bauchi State before later venturing into journalism. He began his journalist career as a public analyst and writer and later got his first job with a newspaper in 1984. He rose through the ranks in journalism and became Deputy Editor of the New Nigerian newspaper. Adamu was also a back-page columnist for Media Trust’s titles and has contributed to many news outlets including London-based Crescent International. Adamu also served as a personal assistant to Solomon Lar, the first chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party. Before his appointment as minister, in 2015, he had gained Buhari’s trust as the secretary of his presidential transition committee.

BUBA MARWA

Probably one of Nigeria’s finest officers, Buba Marwa, from Borno State, has had a most accomplished sojourn in the military, serving as military administrator in many states including metropolitan Lagos between 1996 and 1999. He is presently the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse.

Marwa was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant in the Nigerian Army Reconnaissance Corps before moving to the Armoured Corp. He held various positions in the army, including Brigade Major (23 Armoured Brigade), Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma, academic registrar of the Nigerian Defense Academy and Deputy Defense Adviser in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC.

In 1990, he was appointed Governor of Borno State. In 1992, he became the defense adviser to the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations until he was appointed the Administrator of Lagos State in 1996. Between 1996 and 1999, Marwa implemented programmes that greatly improved living conditions in Lagos. He revamped public health institutions, upgraded public infrastructure, and enacted pro-people edicts. The popular keke marwa in Lagos today is a testament of his efforts.

Marwa had a brief stint with politics in the past, but may made no notable inroads. It is not obvious he will still make inroads in the battle to occupy Abba Kyari’s vacant seat although he is under pressure to keep the tradition set by Major General Abdulahi Mohammed (Rtd.) who served as Chief of Staff between 1999 – 2008 to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Brig. Gen. Jones Arogbofa (Rtd.), who served President Goodluck Jonathan.

ABUBAKAR MALAMI

The current Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, is one public officer who stands a great chance of claiming the CoS position if blind loyalty is a yardstick for appointment. He emerged as Buhari’s youngest minister in 2015.

Born on April 17, 1967, in Birnin Kebbi, Malami has age on his side, and can compliment Buhari’s near incapacitation in the day to day running of government. A lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Malami has proved in the cause his duties that loyalty is everything, even more than competence.

His early formal education began at Nassarawa Primary School, Birnin Kebbi before he completed his secondary school education at College of Arts and Arabic Studies. In 1991, he graduated from Usmanu Danfodiyo University where he studied Law and was called to the bar in 1992. Abubakar obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration in 1994 from the University of Maiduguri.

As a legal practitioner, Abubakar has served in various capacities including being a counsel and magistrate in Kebbi State and as National Legal Adviser of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change. He was actively involved in the formation of the All Progressives Congress in 2013 as the resource person to the Manifesto Drafting Sub-Committee of Inter Joint Party Merger Committees between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He failed in his bid to become governor of Kebbi State, losing to the present governor at the primaries.

Malami has been accused in many quarters for gross misconduct in the discharge of his duties, and narrowly escaped being stripped of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria rank by the disciplinary panel of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee in 2019.

HAMEED ALIDass,

A native of Dass, Bauchi State, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), was born on January 15, 1955, and is the current Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service.

He is another loyalist of the president, and has served as Military Governor of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998. After retirement from the army, he became secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum – a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria. Many know him as an ethnic jingoist, and may fulfill all that Buhari represents if he is eventually chosen.

He has supported Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential bids in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Coming from a Buharist political background, he has promoted trade protectionist and strict law and order policies within the Buhari administration.

Ali was once said to have sacked about 30,000 striking civil servants in the Kaduna state, and detained 18 local government chairmen while serving as the military administrator of the State from August 1996 to August 1998.

Reports alleged that the reporter who published the article in a local magazine, was arrested, severely beaten, then taken to the Government House and further tortured. Ali however later denied the allegations.

He is also said to have held his own in the fight against corruption as comptroller-general, among many other chronic problems in service including border insecurity.

Ali is as controversial as he is loyal. He was engaged in loggerhead with the eight assembly, snubbing the senate’s sermons and calls to wear customs’ uniform.

There’s also the likes of Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, whose elected executive position may prevent from contesting the former oblivious position, which late Abba Kyari has suddenly made very powerful.

All eyes now on Buhari!

Headline

Former Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa, Defects to APC

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2025

Eric

Former Governor of Delta State, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate in the 2023 election, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa confirmed the news of his defection to ARISE NEWS on Wednesday following the announcement of the current governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, who also defected from the PDP to the APC on Wednesday.

The development was disclosed by Senator James Manager after a six-hour meeting at Government House, Asaba.

“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC,” Manager stated. “We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat.”

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, officially confirmed the sweeping political shift, attributing the decision to the need for renewed direction and enhanced governance in the state.

“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state,” he said.

Aniagwu added that the move aimed to sustain progress in law, security, and welfare, likening the PDP to a “palm wine whose taste has changed,” necessitating a change in “drinking party”.

He further indicated that the defection was unanimously agreed upon by key PDP leaders and stakeholders in the state, with a formal public declaration expected on Monday.

“By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC,” he said.

The mass defection represents a dramatic realignment in Delta State’s political landscape and could significantly alter party dynamics in the broader South-South region, historically a PDP stronghold.

Okowa will be received on Monday by Vice President Kashim Shettima alongside Governor Oborevwori.

AriseNews

Headline

Delta Gov, Oborevwori Dumps PDP, Joins APC

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2025

Eric

Delta State governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was announced after Wednesday’s closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon.

Ahon said the Governor’s decision to switch allegiance to the ruling APC came after thorough discussions with political stakeholders, aimed at fostering long-term development for Delta State.

Governor Oborevwori, who secured victory in the 2023 gubernatorial election under the platform of the PDP, was welcomed by high-ranking APC officials.

Headline

Nigeria: Welcome to a One-Party State

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Following the unanimous decision of the governors of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reject proposed merger and coalition with other political parties and interests, it appears that there’s an unspoken desire to facilitate, propagate and elongate the Bola Tinubu presidency beyond 2027.

The PDP governors had in Ibadan, during a meeting, dismissed speculations of a possible merger of parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who read the communique after the 2025/4th meeting, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said, “The Forum has resolved that the PDP will not join any coalition or merger.”

He said PDP, as a major opposition party, will welcome any party, persons or groups that are willing to join the party with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.

This assertion, according to stakeholders, who believe that the present PDP or any other party, cannot unseat Tinubu in 2027, appears to be a rubber stamp on the continuation of the Tinubu administration. Some have alleged that the some PDP governors may have sold out to the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby refusing a coalition, that may likely unseat the APC government in 2027. They said that with the recent trend of events, it is obvious that Nigeria, under Tinubu is heading to an inglorious one-party status.

During the weekend, at a public function, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, confirmed support for President Tinubu saying in his state, there’s no more party politics as they are all in a “unity party” of PDP and APC.

In the same vein, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, has called on his people to support Tinubu, and by extension, his APC. Stakeholders believe it’s all about getting to nod for their second term in office. The scenario is also incumbent upon the governors of Enugu and Delta states, Peter Mba and Sheriff Oborevwori respectively, who are fast weighing their options.

Investigations, as reported by ThisDay, revealed that defection talks with many PDP governors have reached advanced stages. It was said however, that certain conditions are said to be attached to the proposed deals to make it a win-win situation for all negotiating parties.

It is therefore, no longer news, going by the way events are unfolding, that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is doing everything within its power to turn the country into a one-party state. Much as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is silent on the nation’s party system, it is a known fact that the country strives, and has been striving on multi-party convention.

However, events recent times, or dating to the advent of the Tinubu government, has revealed a trend that showed there is a tendency being hatched by the president to convert the country to a one-party state, loyal to the party at the centre, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is important to note that this unholy trend is not a function of the ballot papers or boxes or electoral propriety, but inordinate manipulations, using the instrumentality of the courts, judiciary, coercion, forced decamping, monetary inducement and outright intimidation.

It is a fact that since independence, Nigeria has maintained a multiparty system except in 1992 when the President Ibrahim Babangida Military Government, through a conference, allowed a two-party system, leading to the 1993 inconclusive elections, touted to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola. The two parties were the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Party (NRC). But with the return of democracy in 1999, the country has maintained a multiparty system, albeit conventionally.

But over the years, much as multiple parties are registered, only two are always the frontline parties, with clear exceptions of 1979 and 2023 when the regional inclination reared its head again as it was in the 1963 and 1966 elections.

In the 1960s, there were the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) among others.

In 1979, there were the National Party zof Nigeria (NPN), the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

And then in 2023, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) slugged it out.

However, dating back to six months into the President Tinubu ascension to the throne, the political positions are making dramatic switches to the APC via court rulings, giving a cross sections of Nigerians the effontery to believe there is a hidden agenda to welcome a new Nigeria where political positions both elected and appointed are ‘allocated’ to Tinubu’s APC.

A few instances earlier emerged to raise eyebrows as regards the direction and shape Nigeria political landscape is taking. Among the instances are the following:

SACK OF ALL ELECTED PDP PLATEAU LAWMAKERS

Earlier in September, the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Moses Sule was sacked by the state election petitions tribunal.

The election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, sacked the lawmaker, who was elected on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) platform in the last election.

He was sacked alongside Danjuma Azi, a member representing Jos North West constituency in the assembly. The tribunal declared the former majority leader of the house, Hon. Naanlong Daniel and Hon. Mark Na’ah, all of the APC as winners of the March 18 elections.

In November, no fewer than four National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP including the Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon, were sacked by the Appeal Court on the grounds that the PDP had no valid structure in the state. They were replaced with failed APC candidates including the former governor, Simon Lalong, who is now the Minister of Labour and Productivity, sparking unrest in the state.

THE THEN SACK OF ZAMFARA GOVERNOR

The Court of Appeal sitting Abuja sacked Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara and declared the March 18 governorship election in the state as inconclusive.

The court also ordered a rerun in three local government areas: Maradun, Birnin-Magaji and Bukkuyum.

Zamfara is currently governed by Mr Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, who defeated the then-incumbent governor, Bello Matawalle, of the APC. Matawalle is now the Minister of State for Defence in the Tinubu administration.

The election tribunal in Zamfara had earlier ruled in favour of Mr Lawal, but its ruling has now been overturned by the appeal court.

The Supreme Court however, overturned the ruling of the Appeal Court, and Lawal retained his seat.

SACK OF KANO STATE GOVERNOR

Also, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal sacking Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State.

In its judgment, the Appeal Court agreed with the judgment of the tribunal, ruling that the fielding of Abba Yusuf was in breach of the Electoral Law as he was not qualified to contest that Election

The verdict comes nearly two months after the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on September 20, sacked Yusuf, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March 18 election.

Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the poll in March.

The tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the affected ballot papers were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

The ruling came about six months after the APC candidate conceded defeat to Yusuf in the wake of INEC’s presentation of the certificate of return to the NNPP candidate.

Observers and stakeholders see the judgment as a means of restoring Kano as an APC stronghold as well as returning its Chairman, and former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje as a force to reckon with in Kano politics in preparation for the 2027 election onslaught. But like in Zamfara, the Supreme Court restored Yusuf as duly elected governor.

KOGI AND IMO GUBER ELECTIONS

The candidates of the APC, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, and Usman Ododo of Kogi State, were both declared winners of the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in the states, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) amid widely reported irregularities.

DailyPost reported that “lapses were recorded in the elections. There were controversies surrounding the data provided on the IReV. Allegations of pre-written results were rife. Worse still, INEC affirmed the controversial results despite alleged evidence of overvoting, disruption of the voting process and clear instances of security agencies aiding the snatching of ballot boxes.”

These were better showcased in Kogi State.

According to YIAGA Africa, one of the accredited observers for the elections, there were proliferation of the pre-filled result sheet in Polling Unit 020 in Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi Local Government Area of the state.

The same development was witnessed in PU 004 in Eni Ward of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area. Yet INEC discountenanced the alarm, and went ahead to release results, and declare the APC candidate winner.

Some observers and Kogi political stakeholders have dismissed everything that happened to the handiwork of the incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello. The governor hasninturn thank President Tinubu for the enabling environment to hold and win the election.

In Imo State, a Daily Post investigation reveals that videos were in circulation where security personnel were accused of allegedly helping the government in power disrupt the voting process, and make away with electoral materials.

The paper wrote: “One such incident happened at the Umuchoko Umuohiagu Junction Polling Unit in Ward 11 of Ngor Okpala LGA, where thugs allegedly working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) carted away ballot boxes and other election materials.

“This reportedly happened after the votes were counted and PDP led with 65 votes against APC’s 35 votes and LP’s 17 votes.

Following the alleged gross manipulation and rigging of the polls, some political parties and their candidates, rejected the results.

While Nigerians have expressed disappointment in INEC and their conduct of elections, it is still unclear whose agenda the electoral body is propagating; theirs or the government of the state?

“This government is just positioning itself for the final battle in 2027, and don’t care if they turned this nation into a one-party state. However, it is too early to begin such grandstanding when the elections are still over three years away,” a political analyst told The Boss

But countering the position, an APC stalwart in Lagos State, hinted that there is no better time to do what the party is doing at the present.

“This is the appropriate time to plant only APC members across the country, thanks to the court cases. You know it will be difficult to turn incumbents to party members after the court cases. Using the judiciary to achieve this aim makes everything absolutely foolproof. The party will come after whatever remnants are left in other parties at the conclusion of court cases,” the chieftain, who craved anonymity, said.

One and half years after, a lot more of shenanigans have cropped up, giving the impression that it’s either one supports Tinubu, or he is removed from the national political equation. The avalanche of crosscarpetings and outright support in the midst of economic downturn and hardships, are evidence that the road to a one-party Nigeria, is fast been cleared.

However, the likes of former presidential candidates of the PDP and Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are making frantic efforts to achieve a coalition that can unseat Tinubu in 2023, but forces are frustrating the efforts, including their own party internal machineries.