- Says Buhari is in full control of his government
The fog hanging on the fate of Nigeria’s Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s aides was cleared on Saturday, as the Presidency confirmed it has sacked aides of Vice President.
The sack was said to be part of ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring a lean workforce in the presidency.
Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity confirmed the aides were given the ‘pink letter’ in a statement issued on Friday.
According to Shehu, the sack exercise, 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.”
Full text his statement reads:
“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overhaul of the nation’s seat of government, arising from which a number of political appointments have either been revoked or not renewed in the Second Term.”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.”
The 35-man list
which was made available by competent presidency sources and reproduced below,
includes the grandson of chief Obafemi Awolowo and the daughter of a former
governor.
•Jibola Ajayi – special adviser, legal
•Lanre Osinbona – senior special assistant, ICT
•Imeh Okon – senior special assistant, Infrastructure
•Jide Awolowo – special adviser, oil and gas
•Lilian Idiaghe- special adviser, research, legal and compliance
•Arukino Umukoro – special adviser, Niger Delta
•Bala Liman Mohammed – senior special assistant, Economy
•Edobor Iyamu – senior special assistant, Niger Delta
•Dolapo Bright – senior special assistant, agro allied value chain
•Toyosi Onaolapo special adviser, community engagement
•Gambo Manzo – special adviser, political
•Bisi Ogungbemi – special adviser, political matters
•Edirin Akemu – senior special assistant, industry, trade & investment
•Akin Soetan senior technical assistant, economic matters
•Aondaver Kuttuh – technical assistant, rule of law
•Ife Adebayo – special adviser, innovation
•Yussuf Ali – special adviser, power regulations
•Tola Asekun – senior special assistant, National Boundary Commission
•Morakinyo Beckley – special adviser, off grid power
•Yosola Akinbi – senior special assistant, NEC
•Tochi Nwachukwu – special adviser, power privatisation
•Bode Gbore – senior special assistant, political
•Abdulrahman Baffa Yola special adviser, political
•Kolade Sofola – special adviser, infrastructure
•Ebi Awosika – senior technical assistant, community engagement
•Muyiwa Abiodun – senior special assistant, power
•Forri Samson – Banu special adviser, entrepreneurship
•Bege Bala – special adviser, BPE
•Feyishayo Aina – senior special assistant, community engagement
•Halima Bawa – special adviser, community engagement
•Nkechi Chukwueke – special adviser, community engagement
•Ilsa Essien – special adviser, media