TheNewsGuru

Tag: Aso Rock

  • Yes, there are cabals in Aso Rock but I am not part of it – El-Rufai

     

    Following reports in some quarters that he is an influential decision maker of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said he is too busy solving problems in his state to take on another role in the presidency.

    El-Rufai said despite his closeness to President Muhammamdu Buhari, he was not part of the cabals, who influenced things in the Villa.

    The governor revealed this while addressing some editors in Kaduna recently.

    In El-Rufai’s words: “It is not correct to say I am part of those that influence things in the Villa. Am I very close to Buhari? Yes. I worked very closely with him in the CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) when everyone had given up on him. I know him, I know how he thinks and he trusts me. He knows that I am driven by public interest. Do I participate in federal decision making? I don’t.

    “I am too busy addressing Kaduna problems to be part of it. When I am called for an opinion or when I happen to be around, and I have an input or if I see something going seriously wrong; I drive and go and see Mr. President I have heard A, B, C, D.

    “I don’t think it is not right, you should consider doing C, D, E. I do that and I drive back to Kaduna. My primary assignment is Kaduna. I am not involved in the Federal Government. People like to say and attribute so much to me, and sometimes it is good for me, it gives me a larger than life image. Is there a cabal?

    “There is always a cabal. Even in your own newspaper houses, there is a cabal. Nobody can run an institution without a coterie of two, three, four trusted people. There is always a cabal; the issue is whether it is a positive or a disruptive cabal. Am I a member of the cabal? No, I am governor of Kaduna state; I work for Kaduna state 24/7.”

  • Presidency confirms shooting in Aso Rock

    ImageFile: Presidency confirms shooting at Aso Rock
    President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Nigerian government has confirmed that there was shooting at the nation’s seat of power, Abuja on Wednesday, saying it was an “accidental discharge” while assuring that the Villa is safe for Nigerians and foreigners alike.

    This was contained in a State House press release signed by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity.

    “Following an incident involving the accidental gun discharge in the State House on Wednesday, the Presidency wishes to reassure all Nigerians and foreigners of the safety of the seat of power in the country,” the statement read.

    It was reported that an incident of shooting occurred at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday involving one of the security agents attached to the Presidential Villa, which left a lady severely injured.

    But Buhari’s aide has said “the security official involved is not attached to the State House”.

    “He came on invitation as a witness in an ongoing investigation and was required, as is the rule, to surrender his weapon at the gates before entry,” he said, adding that “It was in the process of conducting the normal safety precaution as professionally required that the pistol accidentally fired”.

    The media and publicity aide to Buhari, however, confirmed that the lady was hit by the “accidental” shot. He also said the security operative was affected as well.

    “Unfortunately, the security operative and the lady by his side, a caterer in the State House, were hit by a pellet of the bullet,” Shehu said.

    “Both of them were attended to at the clinic and discharged,” he added.