Following disquiet in some quarters over the
non-participation of Vice-President, Yemi
Osinbajo at different security meetings held
by President Muhammadu Buhari since
assumption of office, DAILY POST on
Thursday reached out to informed security
source to explain the rationale behind the
development.
DAILY POST recalls that on Tuesday June 2,
2015, Buhari met with the National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, the Chief of
Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,
Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth
Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral
Usman O. Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice
Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector General of
Police, Solomon Arase.
The meeting held at the Defence House in
Abuja.
Miffed by the development, a number of
media houses reported that Osinbajo was
‘locked out’ of the meeting on the orders of
the President.
Ten days after, the ruling party, All
Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to
comment on why Osinbajo didn’t attend the
meeting.
Again, on Wednesday June 10, the President
met behind closed doors with the NSA and
some security chiefs ahead of Thursday’s
meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission
in Abuja.
Osinbajo was no where around Defence
House, venue of the meeting.
Speaking to DAILY POST on reactions trailing
Osinbajo’s absence, our source said the VP
may not be granted access to such meetings
soon.
The source who is well-connected to many
Security agencies and their top echelons
reminded those accusing Buhari of sidelining
the Vice President that Osinbajo is a legal
luminary, not a security expert.
His words: “I am sure he would have been
invited if he had security background. Being
a Professor of Law is fine, but in terms of
intelligence and access to security
information, you are no where near the rank
of Colonel or equivalent in the Nigeria
Military.”
“Look, I have watched some footages that if
the VP gets to see, he would lose appetite for
days.
“Now, we have someone who has been in
luxury virtually all his life, attaining the
position of VP and some people are
clamouring for his presence in highly
sensitive talks.
“The truth is that the military hierarchy would
not even feel comfortable saying some things
in his presence.
“I can tell you that they respect Prof Osinbajo
as VP, but they cannot trust him with
information yet.”
“You cannot compare him to Buhari who
served in many military roles, chased away
a militia that was threatening Nigeria
security, overthrew a military government,
became Head of State, fought corruption and
went ahead to instill discipline among a
stubborn citizenry.”
Asked if Osinbajo would continue to stay
back and watch, the source responded: “He
would be brought in but not now.”
“The VP would have to go through what is
called ‘Stimulation’. This is a process where
he is lectured on terms, dealings, operations
etc of the military.”
“His inner strength, strong heart and ability
to keep things to himself will first be put to
test before he gets access to some classified
materials and information.”
On possibility of politics being a reason why
Osinbajo has not been part of the security
meetings, the source said such cannot be
ruled out.
“We must understand the fact that Osinbajo
was a candidate promoted by Bola Tinubu
(ex-Lagos Governor), he was not handpicked
by Buhari.
“If the President had picked a vice, it is likely
that such individual may get the access
Osinbajo isn’t getting now.
“Everyone knows the VP has been loyal to
Tinubu for decades and he cannot swear that
he would not divulge details of these security
meetings to his political godfather.
“So he has to earn it. Tinubu may have used
his influence to put him in this position but he
must draw a line between blind loyalty and
national duty.”
