Media guru High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi has been lined up to replace Chief Mike Oghiadomhe as Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan in a cabinet shake-up expected to be effected soon.

A competent source told News Express that this was the reason why Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, operators of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, promptly dismissed Executive Director Imoni Mac Amarere and popular presenter Gbenga Aruleba of FOCUS NIGERIA fame for featuring an interview with Lagos-based journalist and activist Richard Akinnola, on last Friday’s discharge and acquittal of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Nigerian military ruler, General Sani Abacha, in connection with the June 4, 1996 murder of heroine of democracy, Kudirat Abiola.

Mr. Akinnola had during the interview on Saturday strongly condemned the appeal court verdict, calling it “a miscarriage of justice” and a political judgment to pacify the North ahead of 2015 general elections in which President Jonathan is expected to run.

The source told News Express: “Dokpesi decided to sacrifice Mac and Gbenga because he has been lined up to replace Oghiadomhe as the new Chief of Staff and he does not want anything that would jeopardise his chances. It is however wrong for him to do this because these are men who have given all their life to AIT. What does he want them to do now?”

Dokpesi, 61, and Oghiadomhe, 55, are from Edo State in South-South Nigeria and both are chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has ruled Nigeria since the return of democracy in May 1999.

Oghiadomhe has worked with Jonathan since June 2007 – first as Deputy Chief of Staff to the then Vice President, a post he held till August 2008 when the post was scrapped. He was immediately re-appointed Principal Secretary to the Vice President, a post he held till May 17, 2010 when he was made Chief of Staff.

News Express learnt that Jonathan has since been fed up with Oghiadomhe but has been forced to retain him this long by his political godfather, Chief Anthony Anenih, the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, who happens to be one of those Jonathan is counting on to help him win a second term in 2015. It is not clear if Anenih has finally agreed for Oghiadomhe to be dropped or if Jonathan has finally mustered the courage to do as he wishes and damn the consequences.

•Photo shows High Chief Dokpesi.

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