Buhari to effect changes on return; ministers, kitchen cabinet members jittery

Buhari to effect changes on return; ministers, kitchen cabinet members jittery

Nigerians should expect radical changes in the Executive when President Muhammadu Buhari returns from his London medical vacation. The President who appears to have fully recovered and awaiting medical advice on his discharge and return to work was said to have been miffed by the actions and performance of certain ministers and key members of his kitchen cabinet in the Presidency and has resolved to take action against such persons.

A senior Presidency source told Political Economist that one of the priority actions to be taken by Buhari would be the report of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo panel which probed the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer David Babachir Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, both of whom were allegedly involved in financial heist.

Before his departure to London the President had constituted a three-man probe panel headed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law, with Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtfd) as other members. He also suspended the two top officials from their offices.

Inside Aso Rock sources said the panel heavily indicted the duo in a manner that thoroughly embarrassed Mr. President. The source the duo may be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.

“While he was away, the President also received briefings on the activities of some ministers and cabinet members which he considered antithetical to his policy of transparency and fiscal prudence. Some members of the kitchen cabinet also engaged in actions that clearly undermined the position of the President. Mr. President will take action against these persons”, our source said.

Prodded to name the persons, the source declined, adding that when the President returns and takes action against them Nigerians will know who they are. The Political Economist had reported of the actions of some persons in the Presidency who took advantage of the President’s ailment to clog the wheel of governance. Some reportedly held midnight meetings with their political allies on how to hijack the Presidency and manipulate governance to suit their 2019 ambitions.

Recall that First Lady, Aisha Buhari, referred to the existence of hyenas and jackals in his husband’s cabinet especially inside Aso Rock. She hinted that they shall be kicked out of the power abode and banished from the Presidency when the President (Lion King) returns.

Those suspected to be kicked out in the first tranche of cabinet overhaul include some ministers who were said to be either inefficient or accused to have worked against the vision of the President and aligned with members of the ruling party who are said to be warming up for 2019 Presidential election having concluded that Buhari will not present himself a second time.

 

The President is due to return in two weeks’ time. Governor Rochas Okorocha said President Muhammadu Buhari was very cheerful and has not lost any bit of his sense of humour when he and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress met him in London Sunday.

Okorocha gave this report in a telephone conversation Reported by President Buhari’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

According to Adesina, the Imo state governor said the party delegation spent more than an hour with President Buhari over lunch, and it was very clear from the discussions that he followed developments at home very closely.

He said the President was delighted to receive the delegation and asked each governor about affairs in his state.

He also asked the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, about the state of the railways.

When asked to react to all the negative things being said about him, the President just laughed, describing such negative reports as lies.

Governor Okorocha said President Buhari was completely unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He, instead, sent his best wishes to Nigerians.