By Lasisi Ojo
The brewing crisis or if you like, storm in a tea cup, between the National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd) and the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari has once again brought to the fore the relationship between officials of the Nigerian Presidency.
Nigerians will readily recall a similar face-off between Mr. Kyari and the immediate past Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita sometimes last year.
It is also instructive to note that Mr. Kyari also attempted to “cut” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to size. This was before he was overruled by President Buhari upon his return from medical vacation.
From the three instances cited above, the only logical conclusion arising therefrom is that there exists an acrimonious relationship amongst officials of the Nigerian Presidency under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The cause of the acrimonious relationship is principally Mr Kyari – the “Almighty” Chief of Staff. This is a person whose office is a conventional one as it is not known to the 1999 Constitution or any other enabling legislation of the country’s National Assembly. Why is Kyari overreaching himself? For an office not known to the constitution meddling with officials whose positions are named in the constitution is utterly reprehensible.
Again, the question on the lips of most Nigerians is that is Mr President really in charge? Is he the one using Kyari as a smokescreen? Which President in the world allows a Chief of Staff to overrule his directives without consequences?
For discerning minds, it is either the President is not in charge or Mallam Abba Kyari is acting his script.
If the previous discoveries on VP Osinbajo, Oyo-Ita were discarded, surely we can’t treat that of the National Security Adviser as one of those beer parlour jokes.
In all of these, credits must be given to our media for getting the scoops/exclusives to keep us abreast of the development.
Conclusively, President Buhari is urged to take firm control of his government. Nigerians voted him twice because of their confidence and trust in his ability to deliver. Mr. President should know that when the history of his administration is told, he will take the credits for all good deeds and knocks for all lows recorded.
His Chief of Staff and other appointees will, at best, be insignificant footnotes in the administration’s history.
A word is enough for the wise.
