Former Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, has disclosed that he had strained relationship with Abba Kyari, the late Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that he prevented him from seeing his principal for five years till his death.
Adesina, Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said he started experiencing this predicament from the outset of his appointment at the Aso Rock Villa, as stressed that Kyari refused to grant him unhindered access to the President, despite Buhari’s directive to that effect.
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The ex-presidential media aide made this known in his book, ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023)’, adding that the former COS intentionally prevented Buhari from funding the operations of the presidential media office for five years.
Adesina said he made efforts to settle the feud with Kyari, by calling on his colleague spokesperson, Garba Shehu, all to no avail.
He said he consulted his predecessors, Dr Reuben Abati, and Ima Niborowho, who worked with former President Goodluck Jonathan, and they confirmed to him that the media office was being funded when they were in office.
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“In June 2015, I had done a memo to the President, recommending some people to be taken on as staff in the Media Department. They had gone through the campaign and struggles with us and pedestaled themselves as dyed-in-the-wool Buharists. They were from different parts of the country,” Adesina stated.
“I explained that much to Mr. President the day I took the memo to him. He thanked me and said he would pass it to the SGF (Secretary to Government of the Federation) when he appointed one, so it would be on record. Fair enough.
“When a COS (Chief of Staff) and SGF were appointed, the President directed the memo to the COS. Also in order. But Malam Kyari just sat on it for the next one year. He did not say anything on it.
Daily Trust