Sources within the Plateau state government have confirmed to ViewPointNigeria that, Emmanuel Nanle, the Director of Press Affairs (DOPA) to the Executive Governor of Plateau state has effectively been frozen out of the kitchen cabinet that he was once a major part.

Nanle who played a prominent role in midwiving Governor Simon Lalong into little the Rayfield government house, with his stinging media attacks has become a casualty of his meteoric rise.

Source who spoke to ViewPointNigeria’s confirmed that political intrigues and dynamics within the Lalong camp have meant that the once invincible Nanle has now been relegated to a bit-part role, akin to that of a mere spectator.

In 2015, Nanle’s stinging attacks on the past administration were so virulent and effective that he single-handedly galvanised support against the erstwhile administration. Famously coining the phrase “Government of the Father, Mother………”.

In recognition to his prominent role, he was one of the first appointees of Governor Lalong shortly after taking oath of office on May 29^th 2015. In fact, Lalong in appreciation offered him the choice of several offices – to which he (Nanle) chose the DOPA role.

Lately however, Nanle is said to have come into stiff loggerhead with his boss – Chief of Staff, John Dafaan and other officials. Sources claim that Nanle is increasingly viewed as ambitious and disloyal to the Lalong project – having voiced out certain concerns and critiques. The critiques/concerns led to him being shut out of the core kitchen cabinet and banished to the sidelines.

To verify the state of affairs, ViewPointNigeria spoke to another insider who corroborated the points and equally added that Nanle’s management of the image of the governor during the numerous grazing debates, herdsmen attacks etc was severally called into question as being un-thought-through and amateurish. That fact, coupled with several press releases, which Governor Lalong had to counter publicly were also said to have worsened his position.

And so to fully relegate him to the background, Governor Lalong roped-in Yakubu Datti as commissioner of information/overall media boss. Datti essentially took charge of all media and press related activities –a role that Nanle hitherto played because of the highly ineffectual past Commissioner of information, Mohamed Nazifi.

In view of the relegation, Emmanuel Nanle was said to have offered to resign on two occassions, but has been prevailed-upon and is being managed carefully –given the damage such a resignation would cause the governor with elections fast approaching.

It remains unclear how the situation will play out in the next few months, however sources express concern at how dicey the situation remains.

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Political intrigues push Emmanuel Nanle to the sidelines