Jonathan Top Aide, ‘Behind Appointement of Oil Goddess Diezani,’ Oronto Douglas Dies

Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, is dead.

Mr. Douglas, 49, a presidency source said, passed on at the State House clinic at 4:58 a.m. Thursday.

The real cause of his death is unknown at this time, but the presidential adviser is said to have managed a terminal illness for sometime, and had, from time to time, sought treatment abroad for prolonged periods.

Born 1966, Mr. Douglas is regularly described as one of Mr. Jonathan’s most brilliant and influential aides, documenting the President’s achievements and legacies, and helping coordinate parallel media and campaign strategies for the presidency.

“He was one of those who had the most far-reaching influence on President Jonathan,” a presidential aide said.

NewsRescue-Oronto Douglas is also remembered for being one of those accused by MEND leader Henry Okah as being Jonathan’s proxies in delivering messages for terror-related plans to divide and rule Nigeria, including the alleged plot for Okah to blame the Abuja MEND bombing on ‘northern elements.’ Douglas was also responsible for persuading the appointment of oil goddess Diezani Alison-Madueke, one of the most corrupt ministers in Nigeria’s history to head the oil ministry.

SEE excerpt from Okah’s deposition:

74. President Goodluck Jonathan used his closest advisor Mr Oronto Douglas or the Minister for Niger Delta Mr Godsday Orubebe to keep in touch with me.

75. Mr Oronto Douglas’ numbers are known to me being +2348055077077 and +2348033003890 while Mr Godsday Orubebe used the numbers +2348037178432 and +2348055296693.

76. During March 2010, the then acting President Goodluck Jonathan informed me that he was sending Mr Oronto Douglas to the Republic of South Africa to discuss certain issues with me. I attach hereto marked Annexure “HEO 8″ a handwritten note he wrote whilst visiting Republic of South Africa.

77. Mr Oronto Douglas arrived on 31 March 2010 and departed 1 April 2010.

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78. During my meeting with Mr Douglas, he informed me that the Northern region of Nigeria was attempting to prevent President Goodluck Jonathan from becoming the president of Nigeria and required my assistance.

79. During the evening of 4 April 2010, I received a call from Mr Douglas who informed me that a certain Ms Diezani Allison-Madueke desperately required speaking to me and requested him for my phone number.

80. Mr Douglas explained to me that she required my assistance in persuading President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint her as Minister for Petroleum.

81. At Mr Oronto Douglas’ prompting, I reluctantly accepted.

82. During the evening of 4 April 2012 and the morning of 5 April 2010, I received approximately twenty calls from Ms Madueke explaining that she was competing for the post of Minister of Petroleum with the now Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Odien Ajumogobia and required my assistance to tip the scales in her favour.

83. Ms Madueke requested that I put in a good word for her with President Goodluck Jonathan whom she said had asked to speak to me.

84. At the time of her first call, President Goodluck Jonathan was busy and she continuously called or sent text messages to update me on the Mr Jonathan’s availability.