In an attempt to zero-in on the closest buddies to the occupant of Nigeria’s seat of power, State House Correspondent, TERHEMBA DAKA, borrows the title from the book, ‘All the President’s Men’, a 1974 non-fiction book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two of the journalists who investigated the June 1972 break-in at the Watergate Office Building and the resultant political scandal for The Washington Post.
But, this is not an attempt at investigating Nigeria’s Presidential Villa. Rather, it’s an attempt to locate the individuals in Nigeria’s State House, who are personally and politically close to the president, chosen specifically to serve the president’s needs.
Feelers gleaned from the State House indicate that these are officers and men who have greater access to and have more influence on the president than the Cabinet, they are All The President’s Men:
Lieutenant Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf (ADC):
He is the son of a monarch, Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi, the Elemona of Ilemona in the Oyun Local Council Area of Kwara State. Yusuf is the Aide-de-Camp to President Bola Tinubu, and was appointed before the inauguration on May, 2023.
He holds one of the toughest assignments his career could ever offer him. Lt. Col. Yusuf provides protection and is ready at all times to lay down his life for the President.
He previously served in sensitive roles in the Presidential Villa during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He brings his experience in intelligence and VIP protocol and protection to the new role.
Lt Col. Yusuf enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical Electronics).
Between 2004 and 2005, he attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), in the United Kingdom.
The RMAS is an institution where all officers in the British Army are trained to take on the responsibility of leading their soldiers.
In 2006, he attended the Nigerian Army Intelligence School in Lagos where he was trained in intelligence and security-related subjects in accordance with the Nigerian Army training policies and directives.
Before his current assignment, Lt. Col. Yusuf attended various courses including the Young Officer’s Course Infantry, NASI, in Kaduna in 2007 where he honed his military skills on the use of various types of weapon systems used in infantry units as well as special operations.
In 2008, Yusuf completed the Tactical Intelligence Officers and Security Investigations courses to improve his capabilities as a military officer. Between 2009 and 2018, the multilingual officer, who is fluent in Yoruba, Hausa, English and French, had several military trainings in Mali, Pakistan, China, Israel and the United Kingdom.
The trainings include Military Intelligence Basic Officers Course (Mali); Junior Staff Course (China); Officers Advanced Intelligence Course, SMI, (Pakistan) Advanced Command and Staff Course (Shrivenham UK).
While acquiring military training, Yusuf obtained a master’s degree in Defence Studies from Kings College, London in 2018, and a postgraduate diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University (NOUN).
Prior to his appointment as ADC, Yusuf had completed a military course designed for Commanding Officers in Jaji, Kaduna.
He also served as Officer Commanding State House Military Intelligence Group and in 2015, where he later commanded the Presidential Body Guards, State House, Abuja.
The Intelligence Senior Officer does not handle his job with kid gloves, as he approaches every public function and other assignments both within and outside the country with the highest level of precision and seriousness they deserve.
He keeps an eagle’s eye on his principal, watching over every move he makes. He leaves no stone unturned to ensure the safety of Mr. President at all times.
His job goes beyond just standing behind the President at official functions and ensuring that his principal is unruffled at the function.
His role as a military intelligence officer and ADC to the President is mostly ceremonial and to give the Presidency dignity and honour. He usually follows the President whenever he goes out on official duties.
Many would, often, see him escort the President to a waiting car, opening the door, then standing at attention and saluting when the President sits on the back seat.
Lt Colonel Yusuf, at times, carries the President’s personal items like mobile phones and speeches. He also receives gifts or other items on behalf of the President.
Many soldiers of his rank, no doubt, were as qualified to be the ADC to President Tinubu, but other qualities stood him out among the pack.
Victor Adeleke – State Chief of Protocol (SCOP): Many who follow developments in the Presidency would have noticed one distinguish official who usually fusses around whenever the president is in a room. His most obvious role is to pull out a chair for the presidential bum to rest on.
The man in question is also a career ambassador. He replaced Lawal kazaure who held sway under the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Adeleke’s official title is either “Chief of Protocol” or “Presidential Liaison Officer.”
Apart from the servile chair adjustment task, Adeleke, a former career Ambassador seems to be the president’s gofer.
Presidency watchers believe that Adeleke is poised to become one of President Tinubu’s most powerful ally as he occupies the office and being a member of the inner circle because of his closeness to the president.
His appointment came few hours after Tinubu’s inauguration as the 16th Nigerian leader since independence in 1960.
The new SCOP was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 and joined the Foreign Service In 1993.
After his diplomatic training at the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy, Lagos in 1994, he served in various capacities at home and abroad, including, the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and, the Office of the Permanent Secretary (MFA).
He also served as an Assistant Director of Protocol to three of Nigeria’s former Presidents, viz: President Olusegun Obasanjo (2007), President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007-2010), and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2010) at the State House Protocol, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Adeleke had served in many of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, notably Beijing, (China), Brasilia (Brazil), Warsaw (Poland), London (United Kingdom), and Dublin (Ireland), where he was Deputy Head of Mission.
Before his appointment, he served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ethiopia.
Fasasi Adeboyega – Chief Security Officer (CSO):
The CSO, who is an operative, is a very powerful official in the Presidential Villa.
During the military era, the CSO’s office was called CPA (Chief Personal Assistant) and all the Body Guards (BGs) were called Personal Assistant to the C-In-C.
This was because the BGs were all drawn from the Nigerian Army, SSS (now DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Directorate of Military Intelligence(DMI). Then, the first two were the closest to the C-In-C.
The CSO oversees, supervises and coordinates especially the inner cordons.
In conjunction with the ADC, the CSO plans the President’s movement both within and outside the country.
Femi Gbajabiamila – Chief of Staff: Gbajabiamila is known to be one of the President’s closest allies. Gbajabiamila, who wield enormous power in the Presidency, was announced Tinubu’s Chief of Staff on Friday, June 2, 2023. This came barely few days after he (Tinubu) was inaugurated at the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure on May 29.
What has distinguished Gbajabiamila from the Chiefs of Staff before him is that he had been Tinubu’s right hand man – a man Friday sort of, for over three decades, and currently wields enormous political power in the Presidency.
There is the perception, whether rightly or wrongly, that Gbajabiamila is the head of the new cabal. There are even talks that he singlehandedly handpicked no fewer than five of the current Ministers on Tinubu’s cabinet.
Indeed, Gbajabiamila is one alter-ego to Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief who enjoys tremendous following. He creates a convivial camaraderie and serves as a go-between, providing the needed umbilical cord that bridges the Parliament and the President.
He plans President’s schedules and guests seeing the President cannot boycott his office in the Presidency.
Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser (NSA): He is a trained lawyer, reputed to be a fearless crime fighter.
He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud, which he literally transformed into one of the most effective and renowned anti-graft agencies in modern history.
With uncommon commitment, he courageously brought to book hundreds of fraudsters, scores of high profile looters and economic saboteurs in spite of temptation, booby traps and threats to life.
Ironically, Ribadu, after a celebrated media trial of Tinubu for alleged corruption, turned around to become his political disciple. How they became friends is still within the realm of conjecture.
Seyi Tinubu: He is the President’s son and the president’s closest confidant.
He is influential and travasses the corridor of power in Abuja. There are also talks that he worked behind the scenes to handpick no fewer than 10 of the current Ministers on the father’s cabinet. This underscores his magnitude of influence in the corridors of powers.
Reports have it that the billionaire President’s son also facilitated the engagement of Ayodele Olawande as the new minister for state for youth. He is also, reportedly, behind the nomination of his employee, one Charles Odili as the new Director General of SMEDAN (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria).
Col. Adebisi Onasanya -Commander, Guards Brigade: He took over from Brig. General Aminu Umar who has been redeployed to Army War College Nigeria as the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies.
As Commander of the elite Brigade, he is charged with the primary responsibility of providing all round protection and guard the President, first family and his guests, as well as perform ceremonial duties.
The Guards Brigade Commander also provides protection for the Vice President of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Toyin Subair – SA Domestic:
He oversees the activities of the President’s household. In other words, he is the Chief emissary to the President. You may not see him regularly like others as he is hardly visible, but he is a very influential personality. He decides who sees the President at home and decides who gets what.
Ajuri Ngelale – Special Adviser On Media And Publicity In The Presidency.
Before he transmuted into his current position, Ngelale had served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari as Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs. He was a co-principal spokesperson of Ahmed Bola Tinubu presidential campaign council for the 2023 Nigeria presidential elections, which they won.
He was a senior reporter and presenter at Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television.
As spokesperson of the President, Ngelale has the onerous responsibility of managing the image of the President and all the good works therefrom the presidency.
He is also influential and is responsible for collecting information about actions and events within the presidency and issues the Presidency’s reactions to developments around the world.
He interacts with the media, and deals with the State House Press corps on a daily basis, generally in a daily press briefing.
Opeyemi Bamidele
Although his office is not situated within the presidential villa, not many, however, know that this distinguish member of parliament and current holder of the office of majority Leader in the Nigerian Senate is a close ally of the Commander-in-Chief and currently wields influence in the corridor of power.
He had served as the Senior Legislative Aide to President Bola Tinubu in 1992 when Tinubu was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation, and Currency.
Little wonder that President Tinubu sent special felicitations to Bamidele, his long-term political associate and trusted ally, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, on July 29, 2023.
Bamidele, who is the Senator representing Ekiti Central constituency, served as Commissioner in the Tinubu administration in Lagos State.
Describing Bamidele, President Tinubu in a statement by the media office of the State House, praised him for his loyalty and dedication to progressive politics and years of promoting the welfare of the people as Students’ Union leader, activist, legal practitioner and an outstanding politician.
“I use the opportunity of the 60th birthday of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele to thank God for His grace upon his life and the mercy he received to be alive, and to be in such an exalted position.
“Senator Bamidele is one of my closest allies and protégés who has risen to national prominence on the back of his steadfastness, loyalty, commitment to progressive politics and hardwork in the promotion of the welfare of the people.
“I know of Senator Bamidele’s sense of duty and extraordinary talent having worked with him for many years. His passion, energy and dedication has continued to propel him and will continue to serve him into a greater future.”
Senator Opeyemi who is not visible to many in the Presidential Villa, an ally in the inner circle of Tinubu’s presidency, is said to wield tremendous influence in the corridor of power.
Abdullahi Ganduje:
Unknown to many, he also belongs to the inner circle in the Presidency. Although he is one unassuming political heavyweight from the northern axis of the governing party (APC), he possesses tremendous magnetism.
The former Governor of Kano state is a staunch ally of President Bola Tinubu. The grapevines have it that Ganduje it was, who worked behind the scenes and served as the arrowhead of those who stood firm for the emergence of Tinubu during the presidential primaries and the main election.
The Kano political maestro it was, who stood firm in alliance with the former Lagos State governor and moved across the country with him in the campaign train during the build up to the presidential election.
With his tremendous influence, Ganduje was able to garner for Mr Tinubu 517,341 votes in Kano, the second-highest that he polled in a state.
Not too long after the presidential election, there were speculations that the parley between Tinubu and Rabiu Kwankwaso could leave Ganduje out in the cold. But all the rumours of a rift with Tinubu fell like a park of cards as the President also supported the former Kano State Governor to emerge as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ganduje is one of Tinubu’s confidants and wields tremendous influence in the current Presidency.
