Chief of Staff Position Tears Tinubu’s Camp Apart

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

An ongoing cold war is currently tearing the political camp of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu apart following media reports he has  penciled down the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as his Chief of Staff (COS) ahead of his takeover on May 29.

However, Gbajabiamila has said that  he knew nothing about the reports of him lobbying to be appointed as COS.

But the  cold war between the camp of Gbajabiamila and the loyalists of the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House and the Secretary of Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. James Faleke, has continued unabated.

While loyalists of Faleke claimed that Gbajabiamila was nowhere to be found when people like Faleke were busy working for the emergence of Tinubu as the president, but he was now trying to position himself as the COS.

On the other hand, those loyal to Gbajabiamila were of the views that the same people that planted the story are the ones accusing Gbajabiamila of planting the story.

A source close to Faleke said some party stakeholders were angry when they saw the story in the media that Gbajabiamila was already functioning as COS.

The source said:  “Gbajabiamila went to the media, I think that made a lot of people angry. He planted the story.“

“Even Asiwaju is unhappy with him. Asiwaju and his wife travelled quietly to rest, he went there and now planted story the he is already functioning in France as COS.

“And people are now angry that he didn’t work with us. Faleke wants to go back to the House of Representatives and help Asiwaju in the House. If Asiwaju thinks otherwise…but his wish is  to go back to the House.

“But Gbajabiamila, the president  has not confirmed it, he flies the kite that he’s already functioning as COS from France. So, the thing infuriated a lot of people that have worked for Asiwaju. This is Gbajabiamila that never even came one day to work for Asiwaju.”

The source added that Faleke was not a desperate person and an appointment seeking person.

The source  pointed out that a lot of stakeholders in the party that worked for Asiwaju for the last four years believed that Faleke should be appointed COS or Secretary to the Government of the Federation, because he knows those that worked for Tinubu’s victory.

He said party stakeholders do not want another Abba Kyari, saying that was why people were reacting that way.

The source noted that Faleke had to withdraw from the Kogi governorship race so that he would be able to help Tinubu in the House or the presidency.

The source said: “He cannot work for Asiwaju and abandon Asiwaju in Abuja. It would be selfish of him to go to Kogi. He does not really wait for Asiwaju to tell him some things. He does it because he likes Asiwaju with passion. You know I told you from the beginning that either winning or losing, he will stand by Asiwaju.

“He felt that Asiwaju needs help, let him stay back in Abuja and help him. That’s the reason why he withdrew from the governorship race. He appealed to those that bought the governorship form for him that they should not be angry with him, they should understand his own issue.”

The source insisted that the position of COS cannot create ripples in Tinubu’s camp, but said a lot of party members  would feel bad if someone else was appointed.

The source said: “He does not care, but a lot of people that worked for Asiwaju will feel bad. Because Gbajabiamila was never part of them. He didn’t work for Asiwaju for an appointment. He believes Asiwaju has done so much for him and this is the time to pay back.

“Whatever role Asiwaju gives him, he is happy, but a lot of people would not be because of the kind of person Gbajabiamila is. There is a lot of agitation already because of the story Gbajabiamila planted.”

Reacting to the allegation, a source close to Gbajabiamila maintained that he didn’t know anything about the story that as generated a lot of reactions.

He lamented that despite that, the rumour has continued to the point of opposing camp accusing Gbajabiamila of planting the story.

The source noted: “The rumour has continued to the point now that he’s been accused of being the one planting the story. If you know the origin of the rumour, if you know how it started,   is he in his (Tinubu) mind? If he’s in his mind, when he comes back, it will come out.

“The point I am making here, is that there are people at play that obviously have made this an issue. When you even started, you said there are people that are getting upset in APC. Who are these people? What is upsetting them? Are they so far removed from Asiwaju that they have to go behind and insinuate things?

“The same people that are claiming that they don’t know he’s been considered for it are claiming they know that Asiwaju is upset. If you are so close to Asiwaju that you know he’s upset, then you will know his position.”