Facts have emerged on why President Muhammadu Buhari cancelled his
scheduled official visit to Rivers State to flag off the clean-up
Ogoniland programme.
The President was billed to personally preside over the flag off on
Thursday but sent his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, to represent him at the
eleventh hour.
However, presidency sources told our correspondent in Abuja Thursday
night that the cancellation may not be unconnected to the intriguing
power play by the Agencies in charge of the nation’s security
architecture.
According to sources, the leadership of the Department of State
Services, DSS (Nigeria’s Secret Police) was said to have advised the
President against undertaking the trip despite assurances by the Office
of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Military High Command.
Ahead of the visit, the presidential advanced team comprising
protocol, security, medical and the media had landed in Port Harcourt
and Ogoniland, waiting to receive President Buhari.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, had also on Wednesday during a
broadcast to the people of the state assured Mr. President of a rousing
welcome, saying they were ready to receive him.
One of the presidency source who spoke on condition of anonymity
said, “There was no reason for the DSS not to have allowed President
Buhari undertake the trip” said adding that there was no apparent
security threat to the president’s life despite statement credited to
the new Niger Delta militant group, the Avengers threatening the life of
the President.
“It is most unfortunate that a well planned trip that would have
endeared the president to the South-South people was aborted at the last
moment.
“This historic trip would have remained indelible in the minds of the
people. The People of Ogoniland as well as the entire Niger Delta
people were waiting anxiously to receive the president only to be told
that he would be represented by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“The security operatives that advised him against coming to the Niger
Delta just destroyed the goodwill Mr. President would have enjoyed
among the people. It is most unfortunate.
“The advice was also designed to put the National Security Adviser
(NSA) to the president in bad light, as one who doesn’t know what he is
doing. They have been trying to undermine his office ever since but had
repeatedly failed.
“This idea of ascribing health reasons to Mr. President’s inability to travel is not healthy for the government.
“It portrays the President as a sick President and that is not the case with President Buhari.
The source stated further that “the advice was also designed to put
the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the president in bad light, as
one who doesn’t know what he is doing. They have been trying to
undermine his office ever since but had repeatedly failed”.
President Buhari had on assumption of office in May 2015, assured
that he would implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
report, which recommended the clean-up of Ogoniland that has been
devastated by long years of oil spillages.
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