The Yoruba Council of Elders has advised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo against resigning his position because of the alleged war against him by a cabal in the Presidency, THE PUNCH reports.
The Yoruba elders also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to remember Osinbajo’ s loyalty to him and refuse to be used by some power against his Vice President .
The Secretary General of the YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide , said this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH in Lagos on Friday.
Olajide said it was obvious that some persons were “ seriously” working against the Vice President , saying the 2023 presidential ambition of some of Osinbajo’ s persecutors was the reason for doing this.
The YCE scribe said , “ We know like other Nigerians that there are enough signs that some people are working against Osinbajo but who the people are , I don ’ t know.
“ It is obvious that some people are working against him and unfortunately, it appears as if Mr President is dancing to their tune .
“ I will urge Mr President to remember the Vice President ’ s loyalty to him in the past four years , especially when he was out of the country for three months and refused to allow unguarded ambition to push him . ”
Olajide said the elders ’ council did not support the advice given by some people to Osinbajo to resign his position.
“ President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hold the ticket together . Both of them were elected on a joint ticket , so Osinbajo should not resign , ” he said .
He urged the Vice President to remain loyal to the President and serve the country “ patriotically . ”
He said , “Osinbajo should remain god – fearing and people- centred in his activities and in the end, he will be vindicated .
“ No matter the motivation of some 2023 presidential aspirants against him , he should remain steadfast in what he is doing in the past four years that are acceptable to Nigerians and to God . ”
Meanwhile , the Presidency on Friday admitted that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the sacking of some aides to Osinbajo.
It came after days of silence from the President ’ s office and barely 24 hours after the VP ’ s aide denied that any Osinbajo aide was sacked .
The Presidency stated that the aides were sacked as part of the ongoing overhauling in the seat of government to cut costs .
A State House statement by Buhari ’ s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity , Mr Garba Shehu , which officially confirmed the sacking, denied that the exercise was targeted at Osinbajo or that there existed any rift between Buhari and Osinbajo.
The statement read , “ The Presidency wishes to confirm that there is an ongoing 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 .
“ 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 . ”
It added , “ 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 .
“ In carrying out these exercises, the overriding objective is to save taxpayers ’ money and deliver the needed service to the public . As far as the President is concerned , there is no scope for an excuse for administration after getting a huge mandate to run the country for four more years . ”
Denying that rift existed between Buhari and Osinbajo, the Presidency insisted that their relationship remained cordial .
He said , “In the light of this , the Presidency wishes to strongly deny rumours of a rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo. The relationship between the two leaders remains excellent and trusting . Together , they will script a glorious future for the nation.
“ The media reports of a sour relationship are originating from the minds and mouths of mischief -makers , who are desperate for entertaining stories from the Aso Rock Villa with which to titillate the public . This ulterior motive is the basis of the wrong interpretation given to the recent exercise in the Presidency .
“ There has been a streamlining of staff going on for a while . The President has always had fewer members of staff than the Vice -President , and there were always plans to reduce the number of staff at the Villa . ”
The VP ’ s spokesperson , Mr Laolu Akande, had, in his comment on Thursday , dismissed the sacking of 35 of his boss ’ s aides .
“ A list circulating in the media on the so – called sacked presidential aides is not genuine and ought to be ignored , ” he had said .
