THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Leaders from the southern and middle belt parts of Nigeria have demanded clarifications on the seeming clampdown on the person and office of Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo in recent times.
Prominent leaders, including Chief E K Clark (South South), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South -west); Chief John Nwodo (South -east); and Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt), in a joint statement issued on Monday and titled: ‘Rumble in Presidency: Need to Know,’ demanded explanations on the alleged humiliation of Osinbajo by some forces in the presidency.
Speaking under the auspices of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), the group which said it has followed with keen interest, developments in the presidency as regards the office of the vice-president in the past few days, expressed worries over what was termed “virtual stripping of the office of the VP of most functions and responsibilities.”
The concerned leaders that Osinbajo has been stripped of his functions, including some that are constitutional, by fiat, adding that this development does not tally with the declaration of APC governors that all is well at the seat of power.
According to SMBLF, “the office of the Vice-President today is definitely not what it was two weeks ago. Something is definitely wrong even when we cannot place our fingers on it yet.
“And this because of the opaque handling of affairs of a supposed constitutional democracy and open society in a manner reminiscent of a kingdom where things are done according to the whims and caprices of the monarch.”
Contending that in a democracy, people needed to know the ways their lives are being run by those they have hired to do the job, the body drew attention to the multi-ethnic nature of Nigeria, adding that the geo-political balancing of its presidency would make the kind of actions that have been taken against the office of the vice president attract the usual suspicion of the experiences of Ebitu Ukiwe and Oladipo Diya, if there are no explanations to the public.
“In this dispensation in particular, references would be made to the treatment of Justice Walter Onoghen, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and now Prof. Osinbajo on one hand ,and Mr. Abdulrsheed Maina of Pension Reform Task Force, Prof. Usman Yusuf of NHIS and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, on the other hand.
“In order to preserve the unity of the country therefore, we demand explanation on what is happening to Osinbajo from the Presidency and if no such is forthcoming, his functions should be restored.
“We have equally noticed the unusual quiet from the Presidency on damaging allegations against the Vice-President. In any normal clime, it should not have taken more than a day for the presidency to dispel the allegations to maintain the moral standing of the VP and the integrity of the administration.
“We, therefore, demand a statement from the government on the weighty allegations or an investigation to be caused. We hold our breath until the public is properly briefed,” SMBLF stated.
Kola Tella
