Power tussle hits Tinubu's presidency as Wike is mentioned, see full details
Claims of a power tussle have surfaced within President Tinubu's administration, implicating FCT Minister Wike. This internal conflict raises questions about the stability of the current government.
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly announced Abdulrazak Namdas as the new BCDA Director-General on June 26, but Namdas has yet to receive his formal appointment letter
- Immediate past chief executive Dakorinama George has continued attending official meetings and representing the agency despite the presidential directive to replace him
- The presidency confirmed Tinubu has not reversed the appointment but stopped short of explaining why the SGF's office has not yet issued the letter
FCT, Abuja - More than three weeks after President Bola Tinubu publicly named Abdulrazak Namdas as director-general (DG) of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), the former House of Representatives spokesperson has yet to receive a formal appointment letter.
As reported by The Punch on Sunday, July 19, allegations have emerged that the delay stems from the Office of George Akume, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
Dakorinama George carries on despite replacement
Legit.ng gathered that despite the directive, George has continued to function in the role.
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On July 9, he held a meeting in Abuja with Taiwo Oyedele, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, to advocate for the release of budgetary allocations for infrastructure projects in Nigeria's border communities. During that meeting, he also told the minister that the agency had secured a proposed $2 billion Chinese investment for a livestock processing hub in Maigatari, Jigawa state, and was collaborating with security agencies on plans to establish a Border Communities Intelligence Corps.
Sources inside the agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that George never formally handed over after stepping down to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary and quietly resumed activities following his defeat in that election. One source also alleged that his continued presence at the agency enjoyed the backing of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike, under whom George had served as commissioner for works in Rivers state. An ally of George described that claim as "mere insinuation," saying Wike, as a presidential appointee himself, could not wield such influence.
Tinubu's presidency stands by Namdas
Onanuga confirmed that Tinubu had not reversed course.
He said:
"As far as I know, the President has not changed his mind. Namdas remains the executive secretary of the agency."
He attributed the delay in Namdas's resumption to the SGF's office, which is responsible for issuing formal appointment letters, but declined to say whether the presidency had sought an explanation for why none had been issued.
The SGF's spokesman, Christopher Ugwuegbulam, stated that a formal written request would be required before the office could respond, while the SGF's media adviser, Yomi Odunuga, said he had no information on the matter. George did not respond to calls or messages.
BCDA: Constitutional questions and opposition reaction
Meanwhile, constitutional lawyer Suraj Bamidele warned that the standoff creates legal uncertainty, noting that decisions taken by an official whose status is in dispute could face validity challenges.
Public affairs analyst Sunday Awosika called it "a very bad commentary," arguing that President Tinubu needed to reassert control over administrative processes.
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