President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended for appointing the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as his Chief of Staff (CoS) and former governor of Benue State, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The Abia State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, made the commendations while reacting to the appointments of Gbajabiamila and Akume as Chief of Staff and SGF respectively, to the new President.
The two appointments including that of the former deputy governor of Jigawa State, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff, was announced by the President yesterday during a meeting with the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the State House, Abuja.
“In choosing Hon. Gbajabiamila, Mr. President has picked the right person for this very important position,” Emenike said, adding that “it’s akin to putting a square peg in a square hole.”
Emenike, who was the Abia State Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, noted that Gbajabiamila was well cut-out for the job as Chief of Staff given his vast experience in governance.
“I have no doubt about Femi Gbajabiamila’s capacity and capability to deliver the goods in his new position in the executive arm of government,” the Abia APC leader said.
“Given the galvanising and stabilising role of the office of the Chief of Staff, Mr. President needed a very trusted, experienced and knowledgeable person to occupy the position and his pick is fitting,” he added.
Gbajabiamila, who was the Minority Leader in the Green Chamber in the 7th National Assembly, had since resumed duties.
Emenike also described the appointment of Akume Secretary to the Government of the Federation as a reward for loyalty and hard work.
“The former governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume, is a good party man who through dint of hard work has continued to rise politically. His new appointment is well deserved. As the saying goes, ‘to whom more is given, more is expected of. I have no doubt that Senator Akume would live up to the expectations,” Emenike said.