There were
reports of jubilation on Tuesday in Fugar, Edo State, hometown of President
Goodluck Jonathan’s erstwhile Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadhome, who was sacked
on Monday
Kinsmen of
the former CoS, including market women, who had accused him of neglecting
his people, were said to have sang and danced round the community as news of
Oghiadhome’s exit from office hit the town.
They were
said to have commended the President for relieving Oghiadhome, who was a
former deputy governor in Edo State, of his position as the Chief of Staff.
Though a
statement by Jonathan’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, on Monday said Oghiadhome
voluntarily resigned from his position but the President was believed to have
forced his CoS to resign.
One of
Oghiadhome’s kinsmen said, “We were happy when we heard the news. Of what
relevance is Oghiadomhe to Fugar people that he has neglected? Rather he used
his position to oppress and intimidate our poor people.
“Look at what
the late (Mike) Akhigbe did for us, but sadly he (Oghiadomhe) preferred to keep
enmity with him (Akhigbe) until his death. That was a man who brought him to
reckoning in Edo State. For us, it is a welcome development.”
Reacting to
the news of Oghiadhome’s removal, a former commissioner in Edo State, under the
administration of ex-Governor Lucky Igbinedion, Mr. Bobby Ikazoboh, cautioned
Nigerians against dissipating their energy over Oghiadhome’s sacking, saying
the development had shown that the President was capable of taking tough
decisions.
He said, “I
don’t have enough information with which to comment on the particular
circumstances of his removal or his legacy while in office. Also I am not sure
it is wise to waste emotions on what we all know is inevitable as everything
that has a beginning will surely have an end. Political appointments by their
nature are transient and are not meant to last forever, so in my opinion
nothing news worthy has transpired.
“Worthy of
comment though is that contrary to the generally held view, Mr. President is
capable of taking tough decisions.”