CHIEF RAYMOND DOKPESI REPLACES MIKE OGIADOME AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN.

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced the appointment of Chairman Daar Communications PLC, operators of African Independent Television, AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, as the new Chief Of Staff.

Dokpesi replaces Mike Oghiadomen, who also resigned on Monday. Both Dokpesi and Oghiadome hail from Edo State.

It is believed that the appointment of Dokpesi like most others made in recent times by President Goodluck Jonathan is targeted at smoothing the way for Jonathan’s re-election.


Dokpesi connections in the media, political and business circles are expected to come in handy as Jonathan seeks to burnish his heavily buffeted image ahead of the 2015 election .

Dokpesi was appointed as the Director General of Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organization in 2010 in the build up to the 2011 presidential election before the former head of state withdrew

Meanwhile, the Presidency has debunked the media reports on Monday that Oghiadomeh was forced to resign over his alleged involvement in the $20b NNPC scam.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in an interview with State House correspondents on Monday, said that Oghiadomeh resigned to pursue his political ambition.

The presidential spokesman described the speculation as “callous and unreasonable”, saying the chief of staff had, in his resignation letter, said he wished to pursue “other political necessities”.