- The recent outburst by the minister of women affairs and social development, Aisha Alhassan has split Buhari's cabinet
- Alhassan had said recently that she would support former vice-president Atiku Abubakar in 2019 even if Buhari seeks re-election
- But the APC has vowed that it would soon make its decision on Alhassan known to the public
Following the recent statement by the minister of women affairs and social development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, reaffirming her support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as against the party’s positions on the 2019 presidential election, Saturday Telegraph investigations have revealed that there is no love lost among ministers and advisers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.
NAIJ.com gathered that the minister had said in a BBC Hausa Service interview that Atiku is her godfather and she would stand with the ex-VP if he decides to contest the 2019 election.
READ ALSO: APC asks Aisha Alhassan to resign
The latest outburst by the former gubernatorial candidate in Taraba state, it was gathered, has pitched ministers and advisers against one another as those who are opposed to her actions have teamed up against those perceived to be clandestinely working against Buhari’s reelection in 2019.
Impeccable sources within the corridors of power confided in the Saturday Telegraph that there is a sharp division within the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members and that some of them are not even on talking terms.
Specifically, New Telegraph sources mentioned two ministers and a Special Adviser (names withheld) who had been friends but whom the latest issued had torn apart.
“It is going to be very messy when FEC meeting resumes, they have gone so petty that they don’t even speak to one another.
“How could adults be fighting over a non-issue? But that is what we are witnessing in cabinet now. When probed further as to why the president had not taken any action, the top rank government official noted that the Buharis’ ailment might have taken a toll on him while assuring that the president would act once he is fit to.
“But we know that when Baba (Buhari) gets back on his feet, he would have to deal with all these issues because they have become a distraction to the efforts to sanitise the system”.
One of the sources also informed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had been particularly piqued by the turn of events, but decided not dabble into the political power play.
“When she was further reported that she repeated her statement to support Atiku, it annoyed many of us, but those with her had been laughing and thinking they are on track.
“The division even annoyed the VP, but you know, pastor is not somebody that dabbles into politics. He would rather leave that to the politicians. But he is not happy with the division among the cabinet members”.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured that Buhari and the party would soon respond appropriately to the position canvassed by Alhassan even as the Adamawa state working committee of the party distanced itself from the 2019 presidential ambition of the former Vice President.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the Makurdi airport during a visit to Benue state to commiserate with victims of the recent flood disaster, which caused huge devastation, a former governor of Ekiti state and APC’s Deputy National Chairman (South West), Mr. Segun Oni, said though the issue is an internal affair of the party, it would be resolved at the appropriate time.
On whether the party is worried about the declaration of support for godfathers by some cabinet members of the Buhari administration, he said; “I don’t want to say much, but I want to say that I am surprised that such a thing is happening in the first instance.
"I want to leave that now for the President and the party to take care of it appropriately, as a party we are going to discuss it”.
Oni, who represented the APC chairman, John Odigie- Oyegun, also blasted the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of causing horrendous damage to the economy, which he said would take some time to fix.
“They were like a thief who came to town and stole, and as they did so, they threw some money along the road. Though I was part of them, I did not partake in their looting”.
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However, there had been commendations and condemnation for Alhassan. While some gave her thumbs up for owing up to the truth, others feel she should not stay a day longer in the cabinet.
Those against her believe that her loyalty is divided between being a Buhari supporter and an ardent follower of Atiku.
In an interview, the APC Vice Chairman from the northern zone, Muhammed Abdullahi, condemned the call made by the minister saying, “it is unfortunate for a serving minister to heat up the polity when the APC led government is working hard to deliver on its campaign promises”.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state said that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Aisha Alhassan as a minister despite complaints by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Watch this NAIJ.com TV video about how Nigerians reacted to 2019 Buhari campaign posters flooding the streets:
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Source: Naij.com
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