There’s a cycle of power within Buhari’s govt, says Shehu Sani on Kachikwu’s letter

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says the letter which Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari is an evidence of a “government within the (president’s) government”.

Kachikwu had written a strongly worded letter to Buhari, accusing Maikanti Baru, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), of insubordination.

TheCable highlighted the issues he raised in the letter.

Speaking on a Channels TV programme on Wednesday, Sani said the memo raises concern about the whole structure of governance.

He said Kachikwu’s claims that he usually faces difficulty in accessing channels through which he can present issues shows there is a system disconnect in the government circle.

“The content of that letter and the allegations raised also raise a number of issues, not only about the NNPC but about the whole structure of governance that exists today,” he said.

“If a minister of state can outright say it’s been difficult for him to access channels through which he can present his issues, I think there is a system disconnect there.

“And it is simply giving credence to the fact there exists a government within the government. There are individuals that have formed a shield, a cycle. And I think the issue that it raised in every possible way, is pointing to the fact that there is a cycle of powers within powers itself.”

Sani said the “government within the government” being referred has nothing to do with the kitchen cabinet — usually used to refer to the president’s closest officials.

“This is about some persons who have surrounded the president and are exercising powers to themselves and to their advantage and also manipulating power for their own personal interest,” he added.

The senator, however, expressed his belief that Buhari was not aware of the issues raised in the letter, adding: “I am of the firm belief that if he is aware of this, he would have taken action.

“And if he is not aware of this and this has been brought to the public fore, then he can now take action on it. But if he says he will not take an action on this issue, then it will certainly stain the integrity of the administration.”