This is just as children of the President Muhammadu Buhari have
declared war on the Private Secretary to the President, Yusuf Sabiu, aka
Tunde, who is a nephew to the President, according to Punch.
The newspaper reported that a family member of the President said
that as of 4pm on Saturday, the aides were still in police custody.
He said, ‘’Tunde met the NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru, who recently
died of COVID-19. He also visited several other places. Instead of going
on self isolation, he decided to return to the Villa and he is one of
the few aides that has direct access to the President.
“The President is almost 80 and he is very vulnerable given his
medical history. We advised Tunde not to see the President but he
refused and forced his way into the Villa. He was able to get the First
Lady’s aides arrested because of the influence he wields.
“We have a rule in the Villa that those who have direct access
to the President should reduce their engagement with people. Even the
new Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has been adhering to the rule
but Tunde seems to be a law unto himself.”
When asked whether the First Lady’s aides had been released, the President’s relative said, “As I speak to you, they have remained in custody, exposing them to possible infection of COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the President’s wife and children had
declared a war on Tunde, who some claimed was beginning to wield as
much influence as the President’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
Tunde, who was nicknamed after Buhari’s late ally, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, is the son of Mamman Daura’s sister.
It was learnt that with the battle line drawn, there was expected to be more crisis in the Villa.
Aisha had, on Friday, called on the IG to immediately release her
aides who were reportedly detained based on the orders of the Chief
Security Officer to the President, Idris Kassim.
Sabiu, who is one of the most powerful aides to the President,
allegedly got the CSO to arrest Aisha’s aides, including her ADC, Usman
Shugaba.
“Finally, I call on the IGP to release my assigned Staff who
are still in the custody of the police in order to avoid putting their
lives in danger or exposure to COVID-19 while in their custody.”
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party has raised
the alarm over reports of gunshots and a breach of security within the
Presidential Villa.
The situation was said to have been as a result of a squabble among family members and officials of the Presidency.
This was contained in a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, on Saturday.
He expressed the party’s worry that the protracted spat between the
First Lady and aides of the President had degenerated into violent
combats, raids and free use of firearms within the Presidential Villa.
Ologbondiyan said, “The party described as distressing, the
report that members of Mr President’s family were at the scene of the
assault against one of President Buhari’s aides, during which the First
Lady’s security details were alleged to have resorted to the use of
firearms.
“Our party is disturbed by such an ugly situation in the Buhari
Presidency, which has already heightened apprehension in the public
space over the apparent failure of security architecture and
central command system in the Presidency leading to such reckless and
irresponsible breaches.”
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has begun an
investigation into the shootings at the Presidential Villa by the
security aides attached to the First Lady.
The DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, confirmed that investigation into the shooting incident was ongoing.
“The chaotic situation in the Presidential Villa only points to
the failure by President Buhari to provide leadership that can
guarantee orderliness in governance and effectively ensure the security
of our nation.”
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