THIRTEEN of the 15 Special Advisers appointed on Wednesday by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took their oath of office and allegiance with the president telling them to buckle up for the task of transforming Nigeria as “Nigerians expect a lot from us.”
Saying that the challenges ahead are “quite enormous”, President Jonathan told the Special Advisers to brace up as “you are expected to be more knowledgeable in the areas you will advise than even ministers.”
He said that they were brought on board to give him quality advise and not for him to start advising them on what to do.
Congratulating them, he said: “You that have been brought on board to work with us, you should know that our challenges are quiet enormous. And if you have been following the papers, you will know that Nigerians expect a lot from us.
“In most democracies, that is what it is supposed to be. Let me share a joke with you that a friend told me while I was talking about special advisers. He admonished me and said, ‘Mr. President, I hope you will not appoint special advisers that you will advise.’ So, from your citations, I am quite sure that I am appointing special advisers that would advise me and not the ones I will advise. So, I congratulate you.”
The 13 advisers sworn in at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja are Dr Reuben Abati (Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity); Oronto Douglas (Special Adviser, Research and Strategy), Senator Joy Emordi (Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters).
Other are Mrs Sarah Jubril (Ethics and Values), Mrs Sarah Akuben Pane (Social Development), Dr. Tunji Olagunju (NEPAD), Honourable Kingsley Kuku (Niger Delta Affairs), Dr. Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi (International Relations), Prof Dan Adebiyi (Special Duties), Mrs. Asma’u Abdulkadir (Gender Issues), Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwakpo (Technical Matters), Barrister Bashir Sufyan (Legal Matters to the Vice President) and Senator Isaiah Ballat (Special Duties, Office of the Vice President).
The two Special Advisers who were not present for their oath taking ceremony include Prof Abubakar Sambo (Energy) and Yakubu Abdullahi (Political Matters to the Vice President).
Three other top aides - Mike Oghiadomhe (who returned as Chief of Staff to the President), Engineer Mohammed Kachala Abubakar (Deputy Chief of Staff to the President) and Ambassador Hassan Tukur (Principal Secretary to the President) were not sworn in as they are personal staff of the President who owe their allegiance directly to the President and not the Constitution.
Until his appointment, Dr. Reuben Abati was Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian. He assumed office yesterday with a pledge to put in his best to sustain the culture of excellence expected of his office.
“It is a whole new territory, a whole new field of experience. I will try my best to sustain the high excellence of this office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. The task ahead is a major one. But the good thing is that we have a President who enjoys the goodwill of the Nigerian people. So, we will help ensure that the Nigerian people develop ownership of his transformation agenda,” he said.
He wished Niboro well in his future endeavours. On his part, Niboro said: “Of course, I hand over today with mixed feelings as I would miss you all who I have interacted and worked with in the last four years. But my happiness is that I am handing over to a competent successor.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydaySaying that the challenges ahead are “quite enormous”, President Jonathan told the Special Advisers to brace up as “you are expected to be more knowledgeable in the areas you will advise than even ministers.”
He said that they were brought on board to give him quality advise and not for him to start advising them on what to do.
Congratulating them, he said: “You that have been brought on board to work with us, you should know that our challenges are quiet enormous. And if you have been following the papers, you will know that Nigerians expect a lot from us.
“In most democracies, that is what it is supposed to be. Let me share a joke with you that a friend told me while I was talking about special advisers. He admonished me and said, ‘Mr. President, I hope you will not appoint special advisers that you will advise.’ So, from your citations, I am quite sure that I am appointing special advisers that would advise me and not the ones I will advise. So, I congratulate you.”
The 13 advisers sworn in at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja are Dr Reuben Abati (Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity); Oronto Douglas (Special Adviser, Research and Strategy), Senator Joy Emordi (Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters).
Other are Mrs Sarah Jubril (Ethics and Values), Mrs Sarah Akuben Pane (Social Development), Dr. Tunji Olagunju (NEPAD), Honourable Kingsley Kuku (Niger Delta Affairs), Dr. Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi (International Relations), Prof Dan Adebiyi (Special Duties), Mrs. Asma’u Abdulkadir (Gender Issues), Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwakpo (Technical Matters), Barrister Bashir Sufyan (Legal Matters to the Vice President) and Senator Isaiah Ballat (Special Duties, Office of the Vice President).
The two Special Advisers who were not present for their oath taking ceremony include Prof Abubakar Sambo (Energy) and Yakubu Abdullahi (Political Matters to the Vice President).
Three other top aides - Mike Oghiadomhe (who returned as Chief of Staff to the President), Engineer Mohammed Kachala Abubakar (Deputy Chief of Staff to the President) and Ambassador Hassan Tukur (Principal Secretary to the President) were not sworn in as they are personal staff of the President who owe their allegiance directly to the President and not the Constitution.
Until his appointment, Dr. Reuben Abati was Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian. He assumed office yesterday with a pledge to put in his best to sustain the culture of excellence expected of his office.
“It is a whole new territory, a whole new field of experience. I will try my best to sustain the high excellence of this office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. The task ahead is a major one. But the good thing is that we have a President who enjoys the goodwill of the Nigerian people. So, we will help ensure that the Nigerian people develop ownership of his transformation agenda,” he said.
He wished Niboro well in his future endeavours. On his part, Niboro said: “Of course, I hand over today with mixed feelings as I would miss you all who I have interacted and worked with in the last four years. But my happiness is that I am handing over to a competent successor.”
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