Osinbajo: The rejected one who refuses to accept the reality before him

Critics called it "troubles in paradise", a good description of the current state of Nigeria's seat of power. But there's also the longstanding question on who is actually ruling the country. While it's easy to simply say, "Buhari is in charge", you might end up making things all the more complicated.


The truth is, all is not well with Nigeria. The last time the country witnessed something this similar was during Obasanjo's reigns when the former president and his vice, Atiku Abubakar, turned on each other.

Buhari's case is unique however, as Nigerians are left confused on who exactly runs the show at the villa. There has been several claims about the existence of a cabal who serves as the de factor president, and who though is believed to be more powerful than the president himself, is also believed to be occupying an office more powerful than the vice president as well. In other words, both the president and his vice are in the cabal's pocket — a claim the president recently refuted.

While still far away on a 14 day vacation at a location critics referred to as his "second home", President Muhammadu Buhari finally reacted to the growing misconception about a certain cabal controlling his government.




In a recent statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said he is very much in charge and warned the public against attributing "non-existing powers to some people" in his administration. But Nigerians beg to differ at least, based on current realities staring at them in the face.

When a vice president is called names such as condolence VP, VP Academics, Aso Rock House boy, Errand VP, Trader Moni VP, and lots of other demeaning names which undermines the office of the vice president, you know without a doubt, that something is wrong at the villa.

Recent series of unfortunate actions by the powers that be in Aso Rock, against Osinbajo such as the stripping of some of his powers, refusal to put him in charge while the president is away on vacation, and recent sack of the VP's aides, is quite damning and speaks volumes.


The vice president's latest attempt to cover up the abuses he suffered at the villa following the recent sacking of his aides, failed woefully, thus adding more insult to injury, to the already battered image of the vice president.

Following news of the sacking, Osinbajo's spokesman Laolu Akande, dismissed the reports, calling it fake and to be ignored. However, a few hours later, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Garba Shehu, contradicted the vice president's spokesman saying the sacking did happened, but was meant to reduced cost of governance.

Osinbajo’s spokesman denied the mass sack, Garba Shehu here has confirmed there’s indeed such action. Let’s keep pretending that there’s no trouble in paradise. https://t.co/6LEalLh8Mc

— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) November 8, 2019

This latest contradiction by the two spokespersons, affirms the general belief that Osinbajo has been relegated and rendered powerless, but for whatever reasons, chose to hang on rather than yield to calls for resignation in protest.

A user facebook Hart Onoko, in a comment on our page, said if reasons for sacking the VP's aides is considered valid, then the next move by the presidency is to impeach Osinbajo to reduce cost of governance as well.


He said, "How many of Buhari's aids do they fire to reduce cost of governance? The next move is to impeach Osinbajo to reduce cost, satanic govt."


It is clear that all is not well at the villa no matter how hard the presidency tries to make Nigerians believe. Whether or not Buhari is in charge remains to be seen, but with his second term journey only getting started, it would be interesting to see where things go from here.