Rumble Royale as Tinubu, Amaechi Sidelined, SGF Under Fire, Amina Clashes with COS
…ACF worried at presidency’s foot-dragging, Kyari’s bungling
President Muhammadu Buhari is holding Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu responsible for foisting on his administration “an incompetent and corrupt” Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), in the person of Engineer David B. Lawal.
Bola Tinubu’s strategic “move” had long been interpreted by the president and some members of his kitchen cabinet as representing part of a larger plot to “hijack” the machinery of government by ensuring that the Vice President is the “engine room” of the administration.
A reliable source said: “The Yorubas sure have an agenda. Look at the 2016 budget, with more than N52b allocated to Lagos State and less than N3b for Yobe State. Bola Tinubu fought for David to be named the SGF.
“And the only reason was for him to have a strong foothold in the administration and to also ensure that his acolyte the Vice President becomes the star of the administration.”
Against the background of the SGF’s recent indictment by the Senate, the blame game is on within the Presidency on how Babachir Lawal emerged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
This is being interpreted as a part of an early, larger plot by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to exert indirect control on the machinery of governance.
The dogfight for the control of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) started from day one with President Muhammadu Buhari taking steps to ensure that only his core loyalists exert superior authority and governance in the present dispensation.
Faced with the high-wire politicking, the president reacted by first taking away some powers of the SGF – ministers were made to report to the president through the Chief of Staff, instead of the SGF, as was the case in previous administrations.
Buhari’s counter-punch included ensuring that none of Tinubu’s nominees, except that for the Osun State, made the ministerial list.
Independent sources have confirmed that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, “single-handedly” drew the ministerial list.
For the South-West states he wrote “BAT” – meaning Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide names, considering the role that he played.
The only state that Adamu Adamu filled was Oyo State, knowing very well the relationship between the Minister of Communication and the president. The president reportedly struck out “BAT” and went ahead to write the names of his preferred candidates against the states.
“Quote me, Bola Tinubu has not hijacked this government. ….the ministers are loyal to Buhari. And this was done to spite and punish Tinubu for amongst other crimes, imposing David Lawal. The president sees this as bad faith,” our source further disclosed.
The problem is that having made the office of the chief of staff “very powerful” to spite Tinubu, Buhari appointed Abba Kyari.
The former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, who recently resigned following her appointment as UN Under-Secretary General, reportedly tongue-lashed the Chief of Staff for querying her for by-passing his office to see the president.
Ministers from the North have complained to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) of how the activities of the Chief of Staff are hindering the performance of the Buhari administration.
Rotimi Amaechi has also clashed with the Chief of Staff for bypassing him to see the president. Amaechi reportedly asked him where he was when they were campaigning to get the president elected.
Though Abba Kyari in response to the criticisms has “hired” Ambassador Babagana Kingibe to help him run his office, the result is yet to be seen.
Memos are still not attended to, only if there are “obvious reasons”. The memo from the Sports Ministry on welfare packages for late Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu is still with the Chief of Staff and this is why the federal government is yet to announce the naming of the Abuja Stadium after Keshi.
Compared to previous Chiefs of Staff, Abba Kyari is seen as a none-starter in competence, capacity and knowledge of Nigeria.
“While you will never find General Mohammed posing in any group picture with visiting dignitaries, posing with visiting dignitaries is the only part of the job … Abba Kyari knows. He prefers the perks of the office,” said our source
The ACF is worried that after getting the presidency back to the North, there is nothing to show for it. The delegation was led by Alhaji Adamu Fika and Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie. Others included Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed who acted as secretary. Buhari attended with his Chief of Staff.
Sources confirmed that none of the decisions reached, like reshuffling of his cabinet and assisting Northerners take control of Keystone Bank, have been implemented.
The reason why they have targeted Keystone Bank is due to Habib Bank, owned by MKO Abiola and Late General Yar’Adua.
