How Buhari’s Top Aide Tried To Snatch Power, Block Osinbajo From Taking Over

One of President Muhammadu Buhari’s top aide reportedly tried to block Yemi Osinbajo from completely taking over while Buhari went on his latest medical trip.

VANGUARD reports that the aide ensured that Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and other top government officials were not informed of the President’s trip until the actual day.

A source close to Presidency said it was not until the day of departure of Buhari that he himself kept asking about the whereabouts of his Vice that his aides who were around, hurriedly put a call to Osinbajo to urgently meet with the number one citizen. The President then put a personal call across to Saraki, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazia Yari Abubakar.

“Mr. President did not want to be dictated to by the said official, who had earlier suggested to him that the transfer of power to the Vice President should be limited, while he should be empowered by the President to act as a liaison between the Presidency and the National Assembly, during Buhari’s absence,”the source said.

“In fact, the man in question had actually drafted a letter meant for the president’s signature two days to Buhari’s departure stating that “the powers of the Acting President be limited” while he ( the aide in question) be authorized to coordinate things in a “broad sense until Buhari returns”.

“In the letter drafted by the controversial official for Buhari to sign, the officer also suggested that Osinbajo be restrained from taking any action on the Economy, Foreign Currency operations and the Central Bank of Nigeria among other strategic agencies of the government pending the return of Buhari.”

The source said that President Buhari shocked the aide by speaking directly to Osinbajo and other top ranking officials before he left.

There are however no indication on whom this top aide is.