Intense power play between President Muhammadu Buhari’s men and loyalists of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is crippling governance in the country, according to presidency sources.

Though it was learnt that President Buhari, who is currently in the United Kingdom (UK) on medical vacation, had instructed the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to relate with the acting president on every official matter and stop trying to notify him, presidency sources say some vital documents are still being kept away from the acting president.

According to a reliable source in the Villa, there are certain decisions that the acting president would have loved to take but he is being incapacitated from doing so by Buhari’s men.

“There is no denying the fact that there is currently a power struggle between the acting president and President Buhari’s men. Though I can confirm that the president had instructed his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to relate directly with the acting president till he returns to the country, that order is not fully complied with.

“Remember that Aisha Buhari, the first lady, recently said the hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom when the president returns. Don’t also forget that she also made mention of some powerful cabals during her interview with BBC some few months ago. Yes, some powerful men in the kitchen cabinet of President Buhari are frustrating the efforts of the acting president to take some critical decisions which will move the nation forward.

“Though Osinbajo is trying to assert his authority, he is careful not to ruffle feathers and that is why he seems powerless to take some key decisions such as swearing in of two ministers who have been confirmed by the Senate since early May,” he said.

Speaking on the issue, Fredrick Fasehun, founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), said Nigeria is currently on auto-pilot owing to the absence of President Buhari and the inability of the acting president to make important decisions.

While berating the National Assembly over its silence on the matter, Fasehun said though Osinbajo is in position as acting president, his position is not accompanied with powers and that explains why Nigeria is currently on auto-pilot.

He said: “If Nigeria is suffering in its governance, should the people of Nigeria be sympathetic to Nigeria or to a particular individual in Nigeria, which this time happens to be President Muhammadu Buhari?

“I personally believe that what goes on now is very unfortunate. We all pray that Mr. President will get well for the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians. We have an Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Why has Osinbajo not been able to perform above expectations? Is it that he was made to act but unfortunately his acting was not accompanied with the transference of power? He is in position but his position is not accompanied with the necessary power and that is why we are in this situation.

“Unfortunately, the National Assembly has not measured up to its own expectations. Do they not have the power to take decisions about this issue as regarding the president’s continued absence? I think we should call their attention to the national constitution.

“They have powers to take decision vis-à-vis governance. Why are they not looking at the constitution and acting accordingly? So, if Mr. President upon returning to the country decides to spend another three months recuperating, what will Nigerians do?

“This is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. No one leaves a hospital bed only to jump to office. There is what they call ‘the recuperation period’. And if somebody has been absent from work for about three months, can he within the recuperating period go to office? No, because he will have to obey the strict instructions given to him by his doctors. So, why is the National Assembly not playing its part? Maybe the media will call their attention to the national constitution.”

However, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, said the acting president is doing his job and governance is not in any way stalled.

“I don’t believe that government is stalled. We have an acting president and he is doing his job, which is very visible to all,” he said.

Adesina also said that those trying to put a wedge between his principal and the acting president will not succeed, because “their role in the presidency is one”.

“Their role in the presidency is one. It is a ticket. So, any attempt to begin to demarcate between the president and the acting president is exercise in futility. It is an exercise in mischief and we should just ignore anybody who says that,” he added.

•Adapted from a report by Independent.

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