By Baron Ike with Agency Report
The sack of 35 aides of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by President Muhammadu Buhari is widening the gulf in the relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo.
The daughter of former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi and grandson of late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, were among those said to have been laid off.
The Presidency says there is no rift between Buhari and Osinbajo.
Bloomberg reports that the relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo is in the spotlight after the president embarked on a private overseas trip without handing over temporary authority to his deputy.
While Buhari, 76, transferred power to Osinbajo, 62, during his first term when he traveled abroad for medical reasons, it’s the second time he’s opted not to since being re-elected in February.
Both the Presidency and leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have justified the failure of Buhari to hand over to Osinbajo, saying the President can rule from anywhere.
Garba Shehu, Buhari’s media aide said at the weekend Buhari could rule from anywhere and that he was not constitutionally bound to hand over gto his deputy if he is not staying beyond 21 days outside his duty post.
Also, Adams Oshiomhole, the APC national chairman said during the week that Buhari can rule from any part of the world when reporters on Tuesday in Abuja asked him to comment on the amended Act that was taken to Buhari in London to sign.
Buhari’s Chief-of-Staff, Abba Kyari, this week had to fly to London so that he could sign long-awaited oil legislation approved by parliament.
Speculation that Buhari is marginalizing Osinbajo was partly fueled by the president’s decision last month to appoint a new Economic Advisory Council that reports directly to him, replacing a committee headed by the vice president. Nigerian newspapers reported that Buhari, who is on a 15-day private visit to the U.K., this week approved the dismissal of dozens of Osinbajo’s aides.
The treatment of Osinbajo since the election “has sent a strong signal to the ruling party and national power brokers that Buhari has no plans to anoint, or go out of his way to position, his VP as his preferred successor,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House.
“It also sends a signal that Buhari prefers to maintain tight control over government decision-making.”
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, declined to comment and Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, didn’t immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Reversing Decisions
Even before the election, Buhari had begun undoing what could pass for Osinbajo’s legacy by reversing key decisions the latter made when he was acting president. These include removing former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, whose appointment was confirmed by Osinbajo while Buhari was abroad, and firing Mathew Seiyefa, the vice president’s choice for head of the secret police to replace a Buhari appointee.
Although the next presidential election isn’t due until 2023, Buhari can’t stand again and attention is already turning to the question of who’ll be the ruling All Progressives Congress’s candidate.
A former law professor from southwest Nigeria, Osinbajo won praise for his decisive handling of economic matters, especially during the president’s lengthy health-related absences during his first term.
Under an informal arrangement, the APC is expected to select a candidate from the mainly Christian south to replace Buhari, who comes from the predominantly Muslim north.
APC spokesman Lanre Issa-Onilu didn’t immediately respond to phone calls requesting comment.
Opinions differ over the legality of Buhari’s decision not to transfer power to Osinbajo while he’s in the U.K. for undisclosed private reasons. The president’s supporters say he’s under no obligation to hand over responsibilities if his absence is shorter than 21 days.
“This is some kind of clever attempt to explain away the provisions of the constitution,” said Clement Nwankwo, director of the Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.
“What he (Buhari) has done is not in line with the provisions of the constitution.”
.Bloomberg