By Gbadebo Adeagbo
In sequence.The ongoing and purported—onslaught against the Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo seems to be real and non-fictitious. It looks as if it is the manifestation of that acclaimed Armageddon between the forces of the evil and the good in the Holy Book; going by the persistent and unending clash between the Presidential paraphernalia and the second citizen of the country.
But, can it be prudent enough to assume that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware or tends to be indifferent about the unending humiliation and technical destruction of the renowned legal luminary.?
So far I would not agree to the charades of media houses that the war in the presidency is actually a ‘Buhari vs Osinbajo’, my observations therefore is strictly my personal opinion and not of any organization.
However, when the news filtered in that the Vice President’s aides have been sacked; there was a sort of demonstration by the media aide to the second citizen of the country who immediately debunked the news as untrue. ‘I think more facts are hidden given the counter media report released by Presidency to support the claims as authentic.’—one of my friend said.
True.
The law Professor’ is gasping for breath. He is like a victim of the popular ‘Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s’ annihilation who had suffered enough destructive missiles from the American soldiers for daring to showcase their strength and power. Yet, Professor Osinbajo might be anticipating an appropriate time, just like every other wise politician endeavors to preserve the ruthless trait in them to a more deserving time before they explode.
Without further ado, President Buhari’s Chief of Staff is in serious internal battle with the ‘Redeemed Pastor’ turned Vice President. The root of the rift dates back to the era of his reign as the Acting President when the President was away due to ill-health.
According to sources, some of the decision he took which included the sacking of the DSS Boss and his replacement with a Southerner ‘Matthew Seiyafa from Bayelsa, the Confirmation of the Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, whom was later indicted of corruption, the Ruga Project rejection, and so on were triggers to the sudden vendetta that has since engulfed the Presidency.
Abba Kyari has become so powerful to have unilaterally carry out his own biddings on countless occasions, even at the detriment of President Muhammudu Buhari’s directives. Technically, he has deepened the Constitutional duties of the office of the Chief of Staff to an instrument of authority and autocracy.
Just like everyone would ask. What has come over Kyari.? Cant he be cautioned.? Is he bigger than the President Himself.?
Not to forget that, the Presidency operates systematically, the President might only see things superficially especially, when it concerns the executions of directives of Memos.
The President has a very competent but arrogant Chief of Staff who now see the Vice President as equally one of the common aides of the President whose role is not defined within the ambit of the law.
Few months ago, the President inaugurated a new Economic Advisory Council, which is assumed to be championed by the Vice President in the last four years; the reasons could be attributed to sudden overhauling that might be assumed to have a political undertone, and was later escalated by the media which opined that the development was due to the VP’s act of insubordination, but, was later countered by the media aide to the Vice President, Laolu Akande as falsehood.
The Vice President is now restricted to head the National Economic Council meeting among very few roles he had been reduced to.
Though the Vice President is subjected to the decision of the President—as he must act in line with every iota of assigned duty. But, can we neglect the arising questions that has overshadowed the media over the last months.?
While some analysts have continued to hit up the polity with some sort of inflammatory comments on the power tussle between the Chief of Staff and the Vice President, more untold facts have continued to emanate. In a recent tweet by the Member of the House of Representative representing Egbeda/Ona Ara, Hon Akin Alabi resonated the superiority of Abba Kyari to the Vice President.
The legislator technically admitted that the Chief of Staff welds more power than the second citizen, as he remains the unofficial deputy of the President; in his reaction to the Amended Deep Offshore Bill and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Bill that was flown to President Buhari in London by the Chief of Staff.
In a quite different and interesting dimension, an APC chieftain, Tony Momoh, enlightened public on the limit and boundary of the Chief of Staff, stressing that, the Chief of Staff is tantamount to a ‘mere’ servant to the President and as such does not weld more power than an elected officer in the rank of the Vice President.
Now we have a two differing thoughts. But relatively, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is the most accomplished Vice President in the history of the country. He remains a figure and promising star in the Buhari’s cabinet that could succeed him after the expiration of his tenure.
Notwithstanding, the pace at which the carnivores and the hyenas in the Presidency are pushing him to the wall, he had never altered or sponsor a media rebuttal against his sworn enemies.
He depicts the true quality of the Yoruba ‘Omoluabis’ and a deep follower of decency in politics.
Do you want to compare the pace at which he had handled the fragility of his position with how the Ex Vice President, Atiku Abubakar did.? Atiku was believed to be a nightmare to the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, especially when it got to the verge of the emergence of a new government.
The then Vice President reinforced the Senate against his principal in a bid to stampede all his policies. Yet, no one could hold Atiku responsible for his brazen manipulations of his office that was characterized by insubordination.
Everyone see him as matador who will spare no enemies on his way to the Aso Villa.
After he decamped to the Action Congress in preparation for the 2007 general election when it dawned on him that, the Obasanjo’s dominated Peoples Democratic Party would use a candidate other than him; the Ex VP never ceased to expose all the atrocities of their government to the public ranging from corrupt practices to misappropriation of funds.
Today, Atiku Abubakar despite his demonstration would only envisage the pleasure of the Presidency in his figment of his imagination, while the axiom of ‘man propose, God disposes continues to thrive’.
In a different way round, Professor Yemi Osinbajo does not deserve the kind of treatment being meted on him by the acclaimed ‘Presidential Servant’ because he remained a sinless disciple who is loyal to his master even during the period of President Buhari’s ill-health days; he displayed utmost loyalty to him. The Vice President has never for once declared interest to run as President in the 2023 general election.
His future declaration if need be, would be in concord with the constitution, as he remained highly qualified to run any time he wishes to do so.
We have witnessed quite a lot of political dramas and unprecedented occurrences in the political landscape of the country that espouses the position of God in the affairs of mankind.
Goodluck Jonathan might not be so sure in the early 2000s that he will become the president of the most populous country in Africa. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would only be concerned about his freedom after his near death experience in the detention until he became the President.
I might only assume that Osinbajo is trying to buy into such idea that, all power belongs to God, hence, man should do less.
This should therefore be instructive that the Abba Kyari and his likes in the Presidency might not succeed in the war against the Vice President.
Rather, such war may only whirls away like a smoke, as no one can play God ultimately.