Buhari vs Osinbajo – Implications of the Alleged Conflict

For a while, there have been insinuations travelling around in the media about a developing conflict between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The recent episode which has recently dominated political analysis tries to make it somewhat an established fact in Nigerian politics that the relationship between a president and his vice have at some point turned sour. As a reminder of the epic power play/struggle during the Obasanjo/Atiku era, it may be indicative that the ambition of deputy presidents sometimes get in the way as their superior seems bent on suppressing it.

The insinuation of the rift between Buhari and Osinbajo became more evident recently when the president appointed an alternate Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to rival the usefulness and relevance of the Economic Management Team (EMT) which is chaired by Osinbajo. After the announcement on Wednesday, September 18, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, announced that the EMT has been disbanded with the establishment of the Buhari’s EAC. Not long after, media aide to Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, debunked the notion that the EMT has not been disbanded. Hearing discordant tunes from the presidency is always an indicator of a tension building up at the executive arm of government.

Analysts, therefore, began to adduce reasons, not only regarding the spree of miscommunication coming from presidential sources, but also the reasons why the president would choose to replace Osinbajo-led EMT with a council he appointed.

Back in June, when the controversy surrounding the RUGA settlement scheme resurfaced, Professor Yemi Osinbajo distanced himself from the moves being made by individuals backed by the presidency aiming to begin RUGA development projects in some states such as in Benue state. Likewise, when the president was out of the country on medical grounds in 2017, some sources claim that the presidency was not happy with some of the decisions made during his absence such as confirming the appointment of then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

In July, the president was also recorded to have chaired a Security Council meeting involving key security chiefs, but which Osinbajo was not invited to. Sources at the presidency tried to play down that episode as usual. These examples or situations have been attributed to be the foundation for the buildup of tension in Aso Rock.

With these recent developments, some speculate that some of the agencies and parastatals such as National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), which the Vice president is overseeing may soon be taken off his supervision.

It is glaring that most of the ruckus is being caused by loyalists of Buhari and Osinbajo who may have started slinging mud at one another early into their 2^nd term in office.  

And it won’t be shocking to eventually find out that those who are fuelling the so-called conflict between Buhari and Osinbajo are their closest cronies who are only looking to benefit personally from any impending windfall.

Ultimately, it cannot be too soon that other parties interested in the presidential 2023 elections are putting in place measures to ensure their candidacy is affirmed. The power play which will shape how the future of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and for the 2023 presidency has begun in earnest.

Source:

Pulse NG

Featured Image Source: papaejima1 – Nairaland Forum

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adedoyin

Macaddy is mostly a farmer in the day who also dabbles into technology at night, in search of other cutting edge intersections. He's on Twitter @i_fix_you

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