MORE information has emerged on the latest crisis rocking the Presidential Villa and the insistence of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, that all relevant agencies of government must enforce the Quarantine Order signed by her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, on everyone, including those in the corridors of power.
Though the latest crisis is the continuation of the power struggle in the Villa, particularly as the president’s nephew, Mamman Daura, had engaged in open battle with wife of the president, security sources around the Villa revealed to Sunday Tribune that fear over the safety of the president is the compelling reason the First Lady is determined to fight it out with the entrenched interests in the government who may wish to bring harm to her husband or run down his government.
This latest crisis brought out in the open by the First Lady on her verified Twitter handle, @aishambuhari, reported that some people close to the corridors of power had violated the quarantine order and refused to self-isolate to prevent their spreading the novel coronavirus to others in case they have it.
Mrs Buhari thereafter revealed that some of the security aides attached to her had been arrested, asking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to release them, confirming a report by online news medium, SaharaReporters, that a Personal Assistant to the President, Mr Sabiu Tunde Yusuf, had violated the inter-state movement restrictions and refused entreaties that he should observe the 14-day self-isolation requirement.
According to Sunday Tribune sources, the recent tragic death of former Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, especially had created panic among occupants of the Villa, particularly the first family, given the age of President Buhari and the virulent manner COVID-19 is dealing with aged people.
The sources stated that all the actions ascribed to Tunde could be traced to Daura as “he is the one controlling and directing him.”
“Unfortunately, it is the people who should protect the president, people who come in contact with him that are breaching all safety protocols and putting the life of the president and his family members in danger,” a source told Sunday Tribune.
Aisha, it was further learnt, feared there was a plan by the cabal in the government to deliberately endanger the life of the president and his immediate family.
“What happened on Thursday should have been avoided if those close to power respect law and order. The First Lady was concerned about her husband, given what we have all witnessed of COVID-19.
“Besides, the president’s personal assistant ought to know that his first charge is to protect his principal, the president. His refusal to do that is the crux of the current crisis which appears to have the backing of some individuals in the government,” the source further stated, adding that the undercurrent to it all is the contest for power and control.
“Why would the police arrest her aides who only followed her directive that the president’s personal assistant should not be allowed to see her husband without observing the necessary COVID-19 safety measures after his interstate journey?” the source queried, saying that was just a slice of the power play going on that the First Lady is fighting.
What has become worrying to the first family, according to the sources, is that they are aware that some of those in government and close to the president are not working for him, alleging that some of them are planning to bring the government down.
“I can tell you that part of the First Lady’s fear is that she is aware that some of those who claimed to be friends of her husband are working for themselves and not for the government.
“She is aware that some of them hold meetings and plan on how to bring down the government of Baba. Knowing all this, she must protect her husband at all times, especially now with COVID-19 killing off people across the world,” a source explained.
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