Meet the Most Powerful Man in GEJ’s Government, How he influenced Major Decisions

The outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has so many influential people within its ranks that have gained prominence for their role in the government.

Many of these personalities are very popular in the Nigerian media and are easily recognised, but one of them is a very quiet, easy going, but a very powerful figure in the presidency.

He is the principal private secretary to the president and an indigene of Adamawa State, his name, unlike the rest does not ring a bell, but he wades a lot of influence. His name is Ambassador Hassan Tukur, he remains one man inside the Presidential Villa who has a say in every major decision emanating from the presidency.

He has undertaken  many jobs for the Jonathan administration where many in the government just would not get involved with any such responsibility.

Tukur, was able to influence many decisions of the administration including recommending key appointees to Jonathan. The personalities reportedly recommended are:

1. Professor Attahiru Jega (INEC Chairman): It was gathered that Tukur single handedly recommended Jega to Jonathan before the former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) was appointed.

2. Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu:  Tukur was also said to be behind the support of the immediate past national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got from the presidency during his quest to emerge as the party’s head.

3. Retired IGP Suleiman Abba: Abba’s appointment is also as a result of Tukur’s recommendation.  He is said to have experience in security matters, so it was easy for him to convince Jonathan about Abba’s competence.

One major role Tukur also played in the Jonathan’s administration is his involvement in the negotiations for the release of the abducted Chibok girls. Being a “son of the soil”, and his vast connections in the north, he was the arrow-head behind the negotiations towards ensuring the girls were brought back alive. One source told Nigerian Pilot that he worked hand-in-hand with the President of Chad, Idriss Derby, on talks with the Boko Haram sect to ensure the release of the girls before the attempt collapsed.