Recent developments in Nigeria presidency appears to have clearly shown that the person and office of the country’s Vice President is being relegated to the background.
While many are of the opinion that the celebrated Prof. Yemi Osibanjo has been used and dumped, some are of the opinion that Yemi Osibanjo is being punished by the cabals in the Presidency.
The suspected disaffection between Buhari and Osinbajo became more noticeable just few days ago when the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari took the amended Deep Offshore Act which is expected to generate at least $500m additional revenue for the Nigerian government, to London where President Buhari is holidaying, for him to sign into law, instead of the Vice President who was at the home front.
The following happenings have further opened up the many travails of the Vice President which further substantiates the claims that he appears to be a political errand boy.
During the 2019 Presidential Campaign, the Vice President and nine others survived a helicopter crash in Kabba, Kogi State where they went to share trader money, instead of proceeding to a hospital, he was told by his boss to continue the journey.
In a recent event in which the Vice President was present, a junior Minister was sent by President Buhari to represent him.
According to a source in the Presidency, most of the aides attached to the Vice President has been moved from Aso Villa to a rented apartment in Maitama, while others have been redeployed to ministries and parastatals.
The only event in recent time in which the Vice President has represented President Buhari was the coronation/turbaning of unknown Chief in Daura.
It has also been alleged that the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo knelt before the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to stop the criminal investigation against him.
The creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to coordinate humanitarian affairs and social development in the country, including the much publicized Federal Government intervention; N-Power, Trader Moni and Market Moni, which Vice President Osinbajo has been in charge of, was to move out some of the functions under the Office of the Vice President.
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Another issue that raised dust, was the President’s announcement at the close of the two-day retreat organized for the ministers, the President instructed the Ministers to go through his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, for meeting requests and through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, for issues relating to the Federal Executive Council.
The President directed the Vice President to seek presidential approvals for agencies under his supervision which include the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Boundary Commission (NBC), the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).
In what many described as a shock, President Buhari dissolved the Osinbajo-led economic team and announced an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) as a replacement.
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