Salihu Lukman: Buni betrayed Buhari’s trust… he had to be moved aside

Salihu Lukman, former director-general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), says Mai Mala Buni, Yobe state governor, betrayed the trust of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the president made a “desirable” decision by replacing Buni with Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger state governor, as chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

TheCable had reported how Buhari had ordered the replacement of Buni as the acting chairman of APC while the latter was on medical leave in Dubai.

The change in leadership became necessary after the president became aware of Buni’s plan to scuttle APC’s national convention.

Reacting to the development in a chat with Arise TV on Wednesday, Lukman said Buni played on the hesitation of Buhari to “micromanage” the affairs of the party and took some steps that were too audacious.

“Buni betrayed the trust of the president,” Lukman said.

“The leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari defers from other leaders’ because while he gives you responsibility, he doesn’t micromanage you, but somehow Buni audaciously took steps based on the kind of trust of the president.

“He believed Buhari would never call him to say, ‘don’t do this’.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, on this matter, I think he did the best he could. And I’m one of his critics. But when somebody does what is right, and the way the president handled this matter is desirable.”