The Presidential Villa, during the  week, sort of regained its fullness, following the appointment of a vice-president to complete the presidential ticket. While the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was ill, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, as vice president, literally and metaphorically walked and worked alone in the vast recesses of the Aso Rock Villa.

Even when there were matters of national importance requiring the presence of the Commander-in-Chief outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), they were not likely to have the privilege of his presence, for if he left the seat of power, who would be in charge of affairs? There were glaring complications on one occasion when Dr Jonathan ventured out of the shores of the land to hobnob with fellow world leaders in the United States.

It did appear that he left no particular person in charge when he was leaving for the International Nuclear Summit hosted by President Barack Obama in April.

Presidency statement simply volunteered that the National Assembly had been apprised of the US visit while other senior government officials including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Aliyu Gusau and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) would be on ground.

Such ambiguity is now seemingly resolved with the presence of Architect Namadi Sambo in the presidency.  President Jonathan can now delegate responsibilities and engage himself in some other worthwhile ventures of national interest without being unduly concerned about what goes on in his absence.

He has moved quickly to ensure that his second in command gets to work on time with the setting up of the necessary administrative structures to aid his take off. This week, he approved a number of aides for the vice -president to as he put it, “allow the office of the vice-president to be properly positioned to tackle the challenges of governance.”

The appointments announced last Monday included that of Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineer Mohammed Ali Kachala Abubakar; Special Adviser (Political), Hon. Hussaini Mohammed Jallo; Senior Special Assistant (Administration), Zakari Aliyu, and Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Umar Sani. Others are Senior Special Assistant (Power), Engr. O.S. Egberongbe; Senior Special Assistant  (Mobilisation), Mohammed Sani Zoro; Senior Special Assistant (ICT), Dr. Baba J. Adamu and Engineer John Tion, who was appointed Senior Special Assistant II (Project Monitoring and Evaluation).

The president was also in Gombe State to attend the maiden convocation ceremony of the state university as well as commission some projects implemented by the Governor Danjuma Goje-led administration. He did not conceal his concern for divisive tendencies which have become the bane of national development and spent some time in his speech at the ceremony dwelling on the consequences of such behaviour. President Jonathan admonished Nigerians to refrain from all forms of ethnic and religious bigotry which should have no place in modern society. In his opinion, “we are first Nigerians, regardless of whether we are male or female, rich or poor; whether we are Fulani or Tangale, whether you are Bileri or Hausa, Kanikari or Kanuri; our commitment to the union, sacred value of justice and commitment to develop all parts of this country equitably remains unshaken.”

He charged that “we must work to harness our resources for the improvement of the standard of leaving of all Nigerians regardless of any distinguishing affiliation. As one nation, we have one destiny. No act, omission, statement, claims and activities either in public or private that divide this country along any cleavages must allowed the slightest space in any part of our dear land. We are one irrespective of our class or creed. If we seek development, we must seek unity, fair play and love. It is only by working together as a nation that we can meet our aspirations to greatness in reality.”

The Gombe visit was the first of such visits for Jonathan to the North since he assumed office as president. Even though he did not need to personally attend the state university’s graduation, he nevertheless chose to elevate the occasion with his presence. Governor Goje duly appreciated the president’s uncommon gesture by naming a newly constructed road in the state capital after him. Plaudits continue to laud the visit as a good way for President Jonathan to assure that the entire country is his constituency.

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