Nepotism accusation against Osinbajo, untrue, unfair —Presidential aide

THE Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Legal Matters, Dr Bilkisu Saidu, on Sunday refuted allegation of nepotism leveled against acting President Yemi Osinbajo in the media.

Recall that a writer by the name Ismaila Farouk purportedly from Zamfara State, had penned an article where he alleged that Osinbajo’s recent appointments into federal agencies were biased as he allegedly sourced people only from either his Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) or from the south west.

But reacting to the claim in “Shirin Safe,’’ an interview programme on BBC Hausa Radio, Saidu described the nepotism charges as simply laughable, untrue, unfair and should not be taken seriously.

She said contrary to the writer’s conclusions, most senior positions on the Vice President’s office are held by Muslims many of who are from the north.

She said: “If you are talking about religion, the most senior official or position in the Office of the Vice President apart from the Vice President himself, is the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and the name of the person occupying that office is Abdulrahman Ipaye and he is a Muslim.

“The positions following the Chief of Staff’s in the order of hierarchy are the Special Advisers in the office of the Vice President. Here there are three Special Advisers and two out of the three Special Advisers are Muslims, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Barrister Mariam Uwais from Kano State.’’

Saidu argued that religious consideration was never a factor in the appointment of the officers into other senior positions in the Vice President’s office, noting: “If you look at the remaining senior positions in that office, most of them are in the hands of Muslims from the north.’’

She further said: “For instance the person in charge of Protocol (i.e. the Director of Protocol) is Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary from Yobe State. Those in charge of welfare and health in the office of the Vice President are mostly Muslims and from the north.

“Worthy of note are the stewards, those who serve the Vice President’s meals, they are mostly Muslims, so what do the critics mean when they talk about religion.

The presidential aide observed that when non-progressive minded people fail to win public support on their personal agenda they often resort to the use of religion given its sensitivity among Nigerians.

“When people lack what to use or have exhausted all avenues to speak evil against perceived opponents or ridicule the good works that they are doing, they resort to use of religion or other means possible to damage the image and reputation of that opponent,’’ she added.