By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA—THE Presidency, yesterday, debunked claims in some sections of the media that the alleged existence of cabal during the absence of President Muhamnadu Buhari hijacked government machinery from the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo

There was a report that specifically accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari of allegedly being the leader of a cabal that undermine the office of the Vice President.

It was also alleged that since President Buhari came back from medical vacation in London that took about 104 days, the Vice President had been pushed aside by the alleged cabals who were said to be calling the shots.

But the Presidency said the allegation was false without any iota of truth, adding that even when the President was away, the Chief of Staff mobilised all the presidential aides to support the then Acting President.

A statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, last night, stated that Prof. Osinbajo had been a worthy confidant of President Buhari and had participated nearly in all the functions since the President assumed duty after his vacation.

The statement read: “To begin with, it is absolutely nonsensical and absurd to write that in one week of the President’s return, the Vice President has been sidelined.

“Quite to the contrary, the Vice President remains the confidant and the closest adviser to the President.

“He has attended all the President’s engagements all through the week, with the exception of two: one, the VP was away to Taraba State and two, the Juma’at Muslim prayer because he is a Christian.

“It is difficult to understand what anyone wants to achieve peddling such falsehood that the President, himself, a former military general and Head of State and Commander-In-Chief, is subject to undue influence and manipulation.”