Wale welcomes PM’s action to restore discipline in PMO, demands same for ministers

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The Leader of Opposition, Hon. Matthew Wale, has welcomed recent actions by the Prime Minister to restore discipline within his office but stressed that the same standards must be applied consistently across the Cabinet.

Hon. Wale commended the Prime Minister for what appears to be an internal clean-up, including the removal of the former Chief of Staff and the appointment of Douglas Ete to the role.

“It is encouraging to see the Prime Minister taking steps to get his house in order. The appointment of Douglas Ete as Chief of Staff signals a welcome reset in discipline within the Prime Minister’s Office. I also commend the Prime Minister for addressing staff conduct that breached protocol and authority,” Hon. Wale said.

However, Hon. Wale urged the Prime Minister to be consistent in his application of discipline, warning that Ministers must not be exempt.

“If the former Chief of Staff was removed for following instructions from a Minister, then Minister Vokia’s position is clearly untenable. Political responsibility cannot be outsourced or absorbed by staff. The real breach lies with the Minister himself,” Hon. Wale emphasized.

Hon. Wale said this issue is especially critical in light of a statement made by the Kadere Party President, claiming that the controversial Vietnam trip had been approved by the Prime Minister.

“That statement directly contradicts what the Prime Minister said during his recent press conference. So, who is telling the truth? The answer lies in what disciplinary action the Prime Minister is prepared to take. Discipline that exists only in words will allow insubordination to persist, and worse, will suggest the Prime Minister’s own complicity in this mess,” Hon. Wale stated.

Hon. Wale also raised concerns that the SI Group, the foreign entity at the centre of the SEZ controversy, continues to operate in the country and is now reportedly seeking influence through the music sector.

“This is deeply concerning. A foreign entity that has already demonstrated disregard for our governance processes should not be allowed to rebrand and embed itself through other sectors. The recent public notice from the Foreign Investment Division confirms that the SI Group does not have any foreign investment approval or proper company registration. Government must act decisively to prevent this from spiralling into a bigger mess,” Hon. Wale said.

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