Abba Kyari, Oyo-Ita in ‘warm’ embrace in after last week spat

The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Service of the Federation have settled their differences.

The two top officials were allegedly engaged in a heated altercation at the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, prompting speculations on the reasons for the bad blood between them.

Kyari and Mrs. Oyo-Ita embraced publicly just before the commencement of the Wednesday’s FEC meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting held a day after the President presented the 2018 budget proposal to a Joint Session of the National Assembly.

It was a mild drama last Wednesday inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, as Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, were seen having a heated argument while the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was seen trying to settle them.

The argument ensued shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Daily Times observed that their argument was not unconnected to the leaked memo which Oyo-Ita submitted to the presidency, upon the sack of Maina from service on Monday, October 23, 2017.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, service chiefs and other dignitaries who had gathered to witness the launching of the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance emblem and the swearing-in ceremony of the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, all watched while the drama unfolded.

Their argument started as soon as Oyo-Ita got seated at the Council Chambers, with Kyari engaging her in a discussion, which almost became heated.

Oyo-Ita confronted Kyari and said: “I have reached the peak of my career. I am not an elected official.”
Visibly angry, the Head of Service rose from her seat and headed straight to Osinbajo, who also engaged her in a tête-a-tete over the issue.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, later joined the conversation after which the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation was seen calming the Head of Service.

The Daily Times gathered that in her response to the query, Oyo-Ita had revealed that the Presidency was in the know of how Maina got re-instated as she had warned the President against the negative implication of recalling the former Pension reform task force boss but her advice was ignored.

It was also gathered that her memo, which ought to be top-secret document, somehow got leaked to the public, a development that has infuriated the HoS.

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja