Sources within the presidency have disclosed that the president’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari is responsible for the controversial clause contained in the letter presented by the president, Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly informing the legislators that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was to be the “coordinator” of government activities during his absence.
Recall that the president had during his last trip to the United Kingdom for medical reasons handed over to the vioce president naming him the Acting President pending his return to the country.
High ranking sources within the presidency according to SaharaReporters disclosed that the phrase “the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the Government,” which was inputed in the president’s letter to the Senate was the brain work of Mr. Kyari.
Sahara Reporters furtehr revealed a source within the presidency to have claimed that Mr. Kyari did not seek the opinion of the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, before drafting the memo which was passed on to the National Assembly.
A source reported that the president was not comfortable with the development as the original content of the letter drafted for the purpose was altered by Abba Kyari.
The source added: “Abba Kyari has some explanation to make to the President who was completely taken by surprise,” said one source. The source asserted that the President signed the letter on Sunday, after a quick glance, with the understanding that the letter was couched the same way as the previous letter he signed when he went on an extended medical leave last January.
“I can assure you that he never knew of the ridiculous insertion of the word ‘coordinating’ in his letter.”
Another source noted that the move by Mr. Kyari was aimed at motivating confusion between the president and the vice president adding that the Chief of Staff had on several occassions been scolded by the president for his politically motivated and mischievous maneuvers.
“Mr. President has often sharply rebuked [Mr. Kyari], insisting that things must be done properly and constitutionally.”