Gulak: Disciplining an attack dog that has erred?

A conscious observer of the happenings in the political atmosphere of Nigeria will agree that it is becoming chillier as 2015 approaches.

Schemes, counter-schemes and intrigues are unfurling in desperate dimensions. As it is, Nigerians should expect more political “somersaults” over the next one year.

Tuesday’s sack of Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the President, Ahmed Gulak, is for political pacifism. The president’s body language conveys his willingness to let go some baggage; and that is, baggage that may impede his bid for re-election.

The point is, Gulak’s pugnacious antics in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has caused exorbitant tension. The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the PDP once berated him for trying to inaugurate a sectional and unknown support group in favour of the president without bothering to pay any courtesies to the state leadership of the party.

It is clear that the romance between President Goodluck Jonathan and Godswill Akpabio, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, is still sizzling. Akpabio is known to command support from an irrepressible crowd of PDP members. In addition to that, he has the respect of stakeholders in the south-south region of the country. In all, he looks indispensable in the permutations of Jonathan’s re-election. Therefore, it is no shock that Gulak’s recent attack on him would attract the censure of the president. Gulak got it wrong when he “caninized” Akpabio. He bit the wrong person, simple!

Again, it could be that the president is weary of Gulak’s ceaseless and needless attacks — attacks that have exacerbated issues for the president — on his perceived enemies.

Drawing from the president’s body language and going by his “adopted” knack for sacking aides, the next presidential aide that may be sacked is Doyin Okupe. The reason: it is now obvious that Jonathan is getting rid of obstructive baggage before 2015, which means Gulak’s sack is likely the case of disciplining an errant attack dog.