by Rachel Ogbu

Former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro and 15 other aides of the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur were fired on Friday.

Okiro had served as Tukur’s Special Adviser on Security Matters.

In a statement, Tukur said it was necessary to reorganise his office for better service delivery as the reason for his action.

The statement reads:

“After one year in office, the political journey was interesting, challenging and I am better equipped in the general understanding and approaches of the operating system viz-a-viz the relationship among the party, the executive and the legislature, which are important components of political governance.

“There is no doubt that the multiplier effect of Nigerian democracy has been quite impressive particularly in the general overview of the scenarios and encounters, thus prevailing on the fact that my leadership as National Chairman shall be more strengthened and determined to move the party forward.

“Informed by this necessity to re-organise my office for service delivery, I therefore relieve all my political and personal aides of their appointments.”

The Punch reports:

It was gathered that Tukur’s decision was part of a deal agreed upon by the party and aggrieved governors of the party.

The governors were miffed by the brazen display of arrogance and disrespect for some of them by the chairman’s aides.

Matters came to a head when some of the aides were fingered as orchestrating the animosity between the offices of the National Chairman and the former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The aides that were fired included, the Principal Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Ida; Political Adviser, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau; Special Adviser on Electoral Matters, Senator Saidu Kumo; Special Adviser on Media, Mohammed Sheriff; and Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Chief O. Akindele.

Others are: Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs, Alhaji Shittu Mohammed; Special Adviser on Security Matters, Mr. Mike Okiro; Special Adviser on Mobilisation, Chief Ishola Filani; Special Adviser on Monitoring, Bennard Miko; Special Adviser on Governance, Osaro Onaiwo; Special Adviser on General Duties, Igwe Uche; Special Adviser on National Assembly, Abdullahi Gumel; and Special Adviser on Special Duties/Protocol Officer, Saidu Suleiman.

He, however, expressed gratitude to all of them for their “kind devotion, patience, cooperation and endurance” in the course of serving the party.