Corruption: Buhari moves against close aides
*Some aides to go
*An influential aide may be eased out
*Customs boss, Hammond Ali, likely to be given higher responsibility
*Subtle move to keep an eye on the First Lady
These are certainly not the best of times for Aso Rock as President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be facing challenges in several fronts, including his home and office at the Presidential Villa.
This is just as the Daily Times gathered that there is a subtle move to henceforth check what comes out from the office of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, to avoid the kind of backlash that attended the recent interview she granted to the Hausa Service of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Apart from the President’s reactions that have elicited public comments, the entire episode is said to have embarrassed both the President and his team.
The President, as part of measures to water down the impact of the interview, which has been viewed as in-house outburst, was said to have prevailed on the BBC not to air the interview but to no avail.
It was however not clear last night if such a commitment can be extracted from the organization, since it has already become a public issue.
The development, Daily Times gathered, created the need, for President Muhammadu Buhari to shift his attention to the Presidency this week while some of his personal aides are now placed under very close watch.
Daily Times also gathered that allegations of high levels of corruption, incompetence and lack of strong commitment to jobs exhibited by some of his personal aides, have become a source of worry to the President and his kitchen cabinet.
Daily Times’ checks also revealed that one of his top aides has already been directed to clear his name over some allegation of corruption.
The top aide, who is said to be very desperate to retain his position, had made several attempts last week to see the President without success before he left for Germany.
In a new move that may see high-level changes, President Buhari is also said to be planning to move the current Customs boss, Alhaji Hammond Ali, to the Presidential Villa, to strengthen his administrative machinery.
Daily Times gathered that the President, who is said to be disenchanted with his current Villa team, wants Hammid Ali, who is seen as a no-nonsense man, to help beef up his team.
Alhaji Ali was said to be the person originally penciled down for the job, but that the President changed his mind and sent him to Customs, instead, to “clean” up the place following the high level of corruption that pervaded the organization.
Only recently, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo had given a hint on the new move against corruption, when he warned that” even close friends of the President will not be spared.”
The Vice President, had while speaking with a small group of Radio journalists and producers at the Presidential Villa, said amongst other things that corruption remains a major drain on the nation’s dwindling resources and assured that no one found to be corrupt will be spared.
The Vice President also emphasized the Buhari administration’s zero tolerance for corruption, as corruption is “the major drain on the country’s resources,” adding that “no one would be spared in the fight against corruption because even the close friends of the President know that they will not be spared, he will not cover for them. Fighting corruption is a priority,” he stressed.
This is just as the Daily Times gathered that there is a subtle move to henceforth check what comes out from the office of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, to avoid the kind of backlash that attended the recent interview she granted to the Hausa Service of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Apart from the President’s reactions that have elicited public comments, the entire episode is said to have embarrassed both the President and his team.
The President, as part of measures to water down the impact of the interview, which has been viewed as in-house outburst, was said to have prevailed on the BBC not to air the interview but to no avail.
It was however not clear last night if such a commitment can be extracted from the organization, since it has already become a public issue.
The development, Daily Times gathered, created the need, for President Muhammadu Buhari to shift his attention to the Presidency this week while some of his personal aides are now placed under very close watch.
Daily Times also gathered that allegations of high levels of corruption, incompetence and lack of strong commitment to jobs exhibited by some of his personal aides, have become a source of worry to the President and his kitchen cabinet.
Daily Times’ checks also revealed that one of his top aides has already been directed to clear his name over some allegation of corruption.
The top aide, who is said to be very desperate to retain his position, had made several attempts last week to see the President without success before he left for Germany.
In a new move that may see high-level changes, President Buhari is also said to be planning to move the current Customs boss, Alhaji Hammond Ali, to the Presidential Villa, to strengthen his administrative machinery.
Daily Times gathered that the President, who is said to be disenchanted with his current Villa team, wants Hammid Ali, who is seen as a no-nonsense man, to help beef up his team.
Alhaji Ali was said to be the person originally penciled down for the job, but that the President changed his mind and sent him to Customs, instead, to “clean” up the place following the high level of corruption that pervaded the organization.
Only recently, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo had given a hint on the new move against corruption, when he warned that” even close friends of the President will not be spared.”
The Vice President, had while speaking with a small group of Radio journalists and producers at the Presidential Villa, said amongst other things that corruption remains a major drain on the nation’s dwindling resources and assured that no one found to be corrupt will be spared.
The Vice President also emphasized the Buhari administration’s zero tolerance for corruption, as corruption is “the major drain on the country’s resources,” adding that “no one would be spared in the fight against corruption because even the close friends of the President know that they will not be spared, he will not cover for them. Fighting corruption is a priority,” he stressed.
