Presidency Explains Why Osinbajo’s Aides Were Sacked

The presidency has broken its silence on why some aides of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo were asked to go.

The appointments of more than 30 aides of the nation’s number two citizen were terminated on Wednesday.

Some top aides of Osinbajo had refused to comment on the development, with Laolu Akande, spokesman of the vice-president, dismissing a list of the affected aides published on Thursday.

But in a statement on Friday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said President Muhammadu Buhari cut down the number of those working with his deputy to save the cost of governance.

“The Presidency wishes to confirm that there is, on-going, 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overhaul of the nation’s seat of government, arising from which a number of political appointments have either been revoked or not renewed in the Second Term,” he said.

“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.

The President is in absolute control of his government. The media should stop attributing non-existent powers to some people. There cannot be anyone too powerful for President Buhari to control.

— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) November 8, 2019

“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.”