EXCLUSIVE: Femi Adesina retains position as senate picks Enang’s replacement

Femi Adesina will retain his position as special adviser to the president on media and publicity as President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to announce more appointments anytime from this week.

Adesina was initially rumoured to have been shortlisted for a ministerial appointment before the entrance of Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun state, into the fray.

Both of them are from Osun.

TheCable also understands that the senate leadership has nominated a former member, Babajide Omoworare, from Osun, to replace Ita Enang as presidential aide on the upper chamber.

He was twice elected senator for Osun east district in 2011 and 2015.

“In the spirit of his cordial relationship with the senate, the president asked them to nominate someone they can work with and they picked Babajide,” a senator from the north-east told TheCable.

“We expect the cordial relationship to continue so that the president can deliver on his Next Level agenda.”

Enang, a former senator, occupied the position from 2015 till now.

Also to be re-appointed are Garba Shehu as senior special assistant on media and publicity and Tolu Ogunlesi as special assistant on digital/new media.

Adejoke Orelope Adefulire will also retain her position as senior special assistant on sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Meanwhile, TheCable understands that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has written to Buhari seeking approval for the appointments of his aides but president has not yet responded.

A source in VP’s office told TheCable that Osinbajo sent the request last week.

Osinbajo is expected to retain most of his aides: Ade Ipaye (deputy chief of staff), Maryam Uwais (social investment), Laolu Akande (media and publicity) and Adeyemi Dipeolu (chief economic adviser).

All Osinbajo’s aides are officially attached to the president.