The Presidency has come out in strong terms to debunk news reports that President Muhammed Buhari is under influence from a cabal.
The Punch had reported on Sunday that Buhari was once again being controlled by a cabal of his close aides and kinsmen from Daura.
In response, the Presidency towed the line of US President Donald Trump and accused Punch newspapers of manufacturing spurious allegations.
Reacting to that report, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, said it was blackmail.
His statement to the press reads, “As Acting President, Vice President Osinbajo enjoyed the support of the Villa Staff and the entire cabinet. Otherwise he would not have succeeded and earn the praises of the President. `These are just a few among the false and illogical accusations making the CoS larger than life, with the aim of pulling him down. No Chief of Staff including this one can create hurdles for a president and survive the next day. “The roles and duties don’t warrant the kind of falsehood being spread.’’ “Publishing poorly-researched allegations and trying to pass them off as investigative journalism or as news may lead to more newspaper sales or to more clicks on a website; but they will also, in the long run, slow down the growth and development of our country, which right now requires the absolute focus of President Buhari and his carefully-selected team to build the Nigeria of our dreams “Unfortunately, this is the path The Punch has chosen and there’s no one to help them but themselves.’’ “It is difficult to understand what anyone wants to achieve peddling such falsehood that the President, himself a former military general and Head of State and Commander-In-Chief is subject to undue influence and manipulation. “It is both ridiculous and inconceivable “Every memo, statement, speech, is subject to his intense scrutiny, right down to the placement of commas and full stops”
