By Danlami Nmodu
The presidency has finally opened up on the reported sack of some aides of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
A statement Friday by Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President(Media and Publicity) confirmed that the move was part of “an unprecedented overhaul” in the seat of power which has affected political appointees.
Shehu said the decision to cut down multiple authorities in the Presidency was ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, “The office of the Vice President, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo has, in compliance with the directive of the President, equally been shed of a number of such appointees.”
He further disclosed that “There has been a streamlining of staff going on for a while. The President has always had fewer staff than the Vice President, and there were always plans to reduce the number of staff at the Villa.”
Shehu also strongly debunked rumours of any rift between Buhari and Osinbajo. He said “the Presidency wishes to strongly deny rumours of a rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The relationship between the two leaders remains excellent and trusting. Together, they will script a glorious future for the nation.”
For The Record, Read The Full Text Of Statement :
BUHARI, OSINBAJO WILL, TOGETHER, SCRIPT A GLORIOUS FUTURE FOR NIGERIA
The
Presidency wishes to confirm that there is, on-going, an unprecedented overhaul
of the nation’s seat of government, arising from which a number of political appointments
have either been revoked or not renewed in the Second Term.
The exercise, which has been ordered by the President, is to
streamline decision-making, cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost
of administration.
It is also an appropriate response to the general perception
that the Presidency has an oversized and bloated workforce which acts as a drag
on efficiency.
As may have been noticed by discerning members of the public,
a number of political appointees among the few that served in the office of the
President were not returned for the Second Term.
The
office of the Vice President, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo has, in compliance
with the directive of the President, equally been shed of a number of such
appointees.
In carrying out these exercises, the overriding objective is
to save taxpayer money and deliver needed service to the public. As far as the
President is concerned, there is no scope for an excuse for administration
after getting a huge mandate to run the country for four more years.
In the light of this, the Presidency wishes to strongly deny rumours of a rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The relationship between the two leaders remains excellent and trusting. Together, they will script a glorious future for the nation.
The
media reports of a soured relationship are originating from the minds and
mouths of mischief makers, who are desperate for entertaining stories from the
Aso Rock Villa with which to titillate the public. This ulterior motive is the
basis of the wrong interpretation given to the recent exercise in the
Presidency.
There has been a streamlining of staff going on for a while.
The President has always had fewer staff than the Vice President, and there
were always plans to reduce the number of staff at the Villa.
The
streamlining was not personal or targeted to undermine the Vice President’s
office, as the so-called insider sources quoted by the media appear to make it
seem.
The President is in absolute control of his government. The
media should stop attributing non-existent powers to some people. There cannot
be anyone too powerful for President Buhari to control.
Garba Shehu,
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and Publicity)
November 8, 2019
