Buhari’s ex-aide reacts as Tinubu appoints Akume as SGF, Gbajabiamila Chief of Staff

The Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad has reacted to the first set of appointments made by President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News earlier reported that the President approved the appointment of Senator George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

He also approved the appointments of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the Chief of Staff and former Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, as his Deputy Chief of Staff.

The new appointments, which were made in a meeting with Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), were contained in a statement on Friday by State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

Reacting to the development, Ahmad in a post via his Twitter account congratulated Gbajabiamila, Akume, and Hadejia on their new appointments.

He wrote: “Congratulations to our brand new Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).”

Congratulations to our brand new Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) June 2, 2023

Recall that Ahmad had hailed the Supreme Court verdict which dismissed the suit seeking to disqualify Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed a case against Shettima, alleging double nomination of the party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The PDP had claimed that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate was in breach of the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The opposition party argued that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice-president and Borno central senatorial seat — at the same time — contravened the law.

However, the five-member panel of the supreme court in its ruling on Friday submitted that the PDP lacked the right to institute the suit and thereafter dismissed the challenge.

Reacting to the development, Ahmad in a post via his Twitter account said with the apex court’s ruling, it is now time to focus on the May 29th inauguration and governance afterward.