Power play not helping the economy

Intrigues and power play within Nigeria’s seat of power may just be a factor in why the

The power play may also explain why the Nigerian economy has continued to falter under Buhari’s watch.

Buhari’s uncle and close confidante, Mamman Daura, still wields huge influence over the president.

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Sources at the villa have also told Pulse that the Daura mafia has all but alienated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from the bigger scheme of things at the presidency.

“The Daura mafia practically runs the presidency. The mafia has also successfully alienated former Lagos governor and leader in the decision making process at the presidency.

“And since Osinbajo is Tinubu’s man, he’s also been handed the cold shoulder by the mafia”, offered one villa source who craved anonymity for this story.

“Osinbajo should be handling the economy. But he only leads the administration’s economic team on paper. The major economic decisions of the Buhari administration are taken by the mafia and that explains why the economy is in such shambles”, offered another Villa source.

A few top level officials in Nigeria’s governing party, the APC, also complained about the work rate of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal.

“Lawal wouldn’t take files home and doesn’t attend to official matters after 5pm. For someone who practically handles a bulk of the administrative work within the presidency, Lawal’s laissez faire attitude to work is worrying. But as long as he belongs to the Daura mafia in the presidency, he’ll remain untouchable”, said one official with a tinge of resignation.

Party officials have also expressed disappointment that the Buhari presidency appears to have ditched the APC blueprint for running the state in favor of the Daura template.

There’s also a sense within the Buhari presidency that the Commander-In-Chief should cease making comments on the economy.

Osinbajo should be entrusted with being the face of the administration’s economy, villa sources suggest.

“But so far, he’s only been handed a bit-part role in the management of the economy. Investors really believe Buhari maintains a stranglehold on the economy. The president hasn’t won the hearts of many investors because of his comments on the economy in the past.

“It will help the Nigerian economy if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, is also fired from his role and a new CBN boss hired to replace him. The market is reacting negatively to Emefiele and his uncertain disposition. Foreign investors really think he’s too pliable and takes decisions at the whim and caprice of the president”, one economic analyst suggested.

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Feelers from the presidency are that Emefiele is too much of a yes man--one who’ll do everything, including appease the president against the markets, in order to retain his job.

The CBN governor is also said to be intensively lobbying for another term in office when his current one expires.