By Jennifer Y Omiloli
President Muhammadu Buhari announced on Friday that he was in absolute control of his government and that no one was too powerful for him to deal with.
He also confirmed his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo aides’ sack, claiming it was done as part of his government’s cost-cutting movements.
In his first official statement since the news of the sacking of Osinbajo’s 35 aides broke days ago, the president said on Friday that, contrary to media reports, there was no rift between him and Osinbajo.
A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed the ongoing revision of the presidency which culminated in the termination and non-renewal of some political appointments.
It said the vice president’s office had been shed of such appointments as well.
However, the statement was silent about who was equally sacked among Buhari’s aides.
The statement reads: “The presidency wishes to confirm that there is, ongoing, 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overhaul of the nation’s seat of government, arising from which a number of political appointments have either been revoked or not renewed in the second term.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.
