Family members , friends and senior government officials who attempted to call or pay visits to President Muhammadu Buhari in the United Kingdom are having a difficult time getting access.
SUNDAY PUNCH authoritatively report that four aides of the president control access to President Buhari , who is on extended medical vacation in the United Kingdom .
The aides are the President’s nephew, Mamman Daura; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs , Sarki Aba; Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; and Personal Assistant to the President; Tunde Sabiu.
Our correspondent learnt that anyone who wants to telephone or see the president in London must get the approval of one or more of the four aides . The only two individuals who are exempted from seeking permission to visit Buhari or call him are Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and First Lady , Aisha Buhari .
It was gathered that the First Lady is said not to be happy with the way the aides have been managing access to her husband . The first lady ’ s relationship with the president ’ s aides has not always been cordial . In October last year, Aisha granted a highly controversial interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation , in which she alleged that a cabal had hijacked her husband ’ s government.
According to a source in government , who spoke on condition of anonymity , Buhari ’ s wife had voiced her displeasure to close friends and associates that the cabal she complained about were still the ones in charge of her husband in London.
“The First Lady is not with him permanently in London , which should normally not be the case . She has had a few clashes with the cabal and she is not happy that they are also firmly in control in London . That ’ s why she goes and comes. She is not happy with the atmosphere over there. ”
Sunday PUNCH gathered that these individuals have turned down numerous requests from the President’s friends, associates and members of his cabinet to see him.
