Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has stated Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomole, was among those who misled former President Goodluck Jonathan into taking certain policy-decisions which later backfired.
As stated by him, the governor, who now speaks against Dr Jonathan, used to be a frequent visitor to the presidential villa, seeking favour from the former president, wondering why he was so quick to switch his allegiance to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking yesterday in a brief encounter with some journalists in Abuja, Orubebe advised President Muhammadu Buhari to keep the governor at arm's length, adding that Oshiomhole as the “Chief Adviser on Economy and Labour Matters” to Jonathan ill-advised him to remove fuel subsidy at the time he did.
He regretted that human memory is short, saying it is unfortunate that the governor now bites the fingers that fed him and seems to have “forgotten in a hurry that he once cried around the former president for assistance and recognition”.
While reiterating that 99% of Nigerians in government are sycophants, he conceded that for now there is some semblance of sanity at the presidential villa, urging the President to be mindful of the antics of sycophants.
He said: “Mr. President, I want to attest to the fact that there is reasonable sanity in the villa, but I want you to be weary of popular Villa sycophants; this is because, Nigerians will hold you responsible for their atrocities and not these sycophants.”
He promised to unravel more secrets on the activities of sycophants in the last administration in his soon-to-be published book.
Speaking on the sour relationship between Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister described Amaechi as a good man, making reference to his unalloyed support for former President Jonathan during the 2011 general elections.
He advised the duo to sheath their swords and work together to restore Rivers State to its lost glory.
On the ongoing political crisis in Bayelsa State, Orubebe cautioned Governor Seriake Dickson against been proud, urging him to embrace humility “like he did when he first hustled for the position.”
He advised him to “swallow his pride and embark on a house to house reconciliation mission of those he has offended”.
He also reminded Bayelsa State leaders that what is before them is not about Dickson who has erred, but their integrity as a people, urging them to embrace peace as a way of delivering the state to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.