President Muhammadu Buhari has named Babafemi Ojudu, a former senator, as his special adviser on political matters, deploying him to the office of Vice President Yomi Osinbajo.
Although the presidency is yet to officially announce the appointment, a presidency source, who requested not to be named, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday afternoon
Mr. Ojudu, who will turn 55 on March 27, represented the Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the Senate between 2011 and 2015 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria and later the All Progressives Congress.
While in the Senate, the new presidential aide served as vice chairman of the committee on defence as well as spokesperson of the APC caucus.
He did not however seek re-election to the upper house in the 2015 election.
Before joining politics, Mr. Ojudu was a journalist and was one of the founders of TheNews magazine and its sister publications, Tempo, PMNews and the defunct AMNews.
He was at various times detained by the military regime of Sani Abacha over his paper’s consistent criticism of the military regime.
Meanwhile, a group, Action Group Caucus of the APC has praised Mr. Buhari for Mr. Ojudu’s appointment.
A statement by its spokesperson, Segun Dipe, in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, the group said the appointment was a New Year gift not only to the former senator but also to the progressive politicians in the state.
“We are expressing confidence in him and assuring Mr. President that the Ojudu we know would prove his mettle as a round peg in a round hole,” it said.
“The Ojudu we know is a thoroughbred progressive and a conscientious politician to whom service and loyalty mean so much. He is a pro-democracy activist who paid more than his due to achieve democratic governance in Nigeria.
“Two qualities he keeps displaying everywhere he has worked or served are the passion to excel and selflessness. He sees every appointment as an opportunity to serve fellow human beings, be it as a professional journalist or as a career politician,” said the group.
The group also described Mr. Ojudu as a team player, an astute personality and a humane fellow.
“He is accessible and down-to-earth. We are very certain that he will not perform any less in this appointment, rather his impact will be greatly felt by the government and the people of Nigeria,” said the group.
