A week after the return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country after more than 100 days, the Presidency has risen in support of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, denying that he hijacked the machinery of government from the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while Buhari was away.
According to a statement issued last night by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, there is no truth in the allegation that Abba Kyari headed a cabal that undermined the office of Osinbajo as the Acting President.
It would be recalled that there were reports in the media while President Buhari was away that the then Acting President was not in charge. It has also been lately alleged that since the return of the President, the Vice President had been pushed aside by the alleged cabals who were said to be calling the shots.
The Presidency however said the allegation was false and without any iota of truth, adding that even when the President was away, the Chief of Staff mobilised all the presidential aides to support the then Acting President.
According to the statement, Prof. Osinbajo had been a worthy confidant of President Buhari and had participated nearly in all the functions since the President assumed duty after his vacation.
The statement reads: “To begin with, it is absolutely nonsensical and absurd to write that in one week of the President’s return, the Vice President has been sidelined.
“Quite to the contrary, the Vice President remains the confidant and the closest adviser to the President.
“He has attended all the President’s engagements all through the week, with the exception of two: one, the VP was away to Taraba State and two, the Juma’at Muslim prayer because he is a Christian.
“It is difficult to understand what anyone wants to achieve peddling such falsehood that the President, himself, a former military general and Head of State and Commander-In-Chief, is subject to undue influence and manipulation.”
