Nigeria: Between Gulak's Sack and Akwa Ibom's Politics of Hate

analysis

In politics, like life, chickens do come home to roost. So, it was not a surprise to read that the pugnacious Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, has been booted out. Gulak, ever-so-outspoken, had played his role as political adviser with what many described as a large dose of overzealousness and loquacity, always picking a fight on behalf of the president--fights which political observers knew were avoidable and needless. But for Gulak and his advisers, all is fair in war and so political advice to the Presidency must include making a ton of enemies for him; shutting doors against conciliation, as well as turning the president's friends against him by whatever means possible.

Some people have said that most of Gulak's actions in office were counter-productive to the president's effort to strengthen the party. Were they right or wrong? The president himself appeared to have answered that question on 29 April by showing Gulak, thought to be his close political ally from the North, a red card. Gulak, indeed, is a lesson in politics for overzealous appointees who court controversy and act God in trying to protect their principal's interest.

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