Why Osinbajo Has Been 'locked Out' Of Buhari’s Security Meetings

Following disquiet in some quarters over the non-

participation of Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo at

different security meetings held by President

Muhammadu Buhari since assumption of office,

DAILY POST on Thursday reached out to informed

security source to explain the rationale behind the

development.

DAILY POST recalls that on Tuesday June 2, 2015,

Buhari met with the National Security Adviser, Col.

Sambo Dasuki, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air

Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff,

Major General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval

Staff, Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin; Chief of Air

Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector

General of Police, Solomon Arase.

The meeting held at the Defence House in Abuja.

Miffed by the development, a number of media

houses reported that Osinbajo was ‘locked out’ of

the meeting on the orders of the President.

Ten days after, the ruling party, All Progressives

Congress (APC) is yet to comment on why Osinbajo

didn’t attend the meeting.

Again, on Wednesday June 10, the President met

behind closed doors with the NSA and some security

chiefs ahead of Thursday’s meeting of the Lake

Chad Basin Commission in Abuja.

Osinbajo was no where around Defence House, venue

of the meeting.

Speaking to DAILY POST on reactions trailing

Osinbajo’s absence, our source said the VP may not

be granted access to such meetings soon.

The source who is well-connected to many Security

agencies and their top echelons reminded those

accusing Buhari of sidelining the Vice President

that Osinbajo is a legal luminary, not a security

expert.

His words: “I am sure he would have been invited if

he had security background. Being a Professor of

Law is fine, but in terms of intelligence and access

to security information, you are no where near the

rank of Colonel or equivalent in the Nigeria

Military.”

“Look, I have watched some footages that if the

VP gets to see, he would lose appetite for days.

“Now, we have someone who has been in luxury

virtually all his life, attaining the position of VP

and some people are clamouring for his presence in

highly sensitive talks.

“The truth is that the military hierarchy would not

even feel comfortable saying some things in his

presence.

“I can tell you that they respect Prof Osinbajo as

VP, but they cannot trust him with information

yet.”

“You cannot compare him to Buhari who served in

many military roles, chased away a militia that was

threatening Nigeria security, overthrew a military

government, became Head of State, fought

corruption and went ahead to instill discipline

among a stubborn citizenry.”

Asked if Osinbajo would continue to stay back and

watch, the source responded: “He would be brought

in but not now.”

“The VP would have to go through what is called

‘Stimulation’. This is a process where he is lectured

on terms, dealings, operations etc of the military.”

“His inner strength, strong heart and ability to

keep things to himself will first be put to test

before he gets access to some classified materials

and information.”

On possibility of politics being a reason why Osinbajo

has not been part of the security meetings, the

source said such cannot be ruled out.

“We must understand the fact that Osinbajo was a

candidate promoted by Bola Tinubu (ex-Lagos

Governor), he was not handpicked by Buhari.

“If the President had picked a vice, it is likely

that such individual may get the access Osinbajo

isn’t getting now.

“Everyone knows the VP has been loyal to Tinubu

for decades and he cannot swear that he would not

divulge details of these security meetings to his

political godfather.

“So he has to earn it. Tinubu may have used his

influence to put him in this position but he must

draw a line between blind loyalty and national

duty.”