Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has only 17 more days in office, a presidency source told SaharaReporters.
On May 29, when President Muhammadu Buhari would be inaugurated for the last lap of his administration, Mustapha “will most likely quit the stage due to three fatal errors he committed”, the source averred.
Firstly, Mustapha, despite being the number three officer in the executive arm’s hierarchy, has wittingly ignored overtures to blend with Buhari’s traditional political bloc, the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).
Secondly, he is being fingered in all the maneuvers that stop Mahmood Halilu Ahmed Modi, younger brother of Aisha Buhari, from clinching the Adamawa APC Governorship ticket.
And thirdly, the SGF’s leaning towards Tinubu is causing ripples among the presidency cabal; whose agenda is to retain power in the north beyond 2023.
In particular, Boss Mustapha’s stay as SGF beyond May 29 this year, is regarded as detrimental to the plan; that is why he must get the red card as Buhari’s first tenure winds up in May.
Not only that, some members of the cabal are of the opinion that Boss’s contribution in the last Presidential election was abysmal, as such he should relinquish the office.
Others simply feel that one person should not be allowed to serve in a none elective office as exalted as the SGF’s for two administrations.
On perpetuating power in the north, the renewed vigor towards it stem from Buhari’s sweeping victory across the north during the last Presidential elections.
Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna state Governor, who is a chief strategist for the cabal and Babachir David Lawal, former SGF, have along the line, commenced the moves to sidelined Tinubu and his cohorts from the politics of who succeeds Buhari.
Babachir and Ei-Rufai, made separate comments considered an affront to the ‘Jagaban’, when they each attack his political interest in the public glare.
Like flying a kite, Babachir had as reported by the mass media, asserted that the ruling APC is not under any obligation to zone its presidential ticket to the Southwest. He therefore posited that he was by himself qualified as a northerner, to vie for the nation’s top job.
In the same vein, El-Rufai, dared and took the battle to Tinubu’s doorsteps, in a clinical move to couch Lagocians on how to strip the APC National Leader of his toga of god-fatherism.
To complicate issues for Boss, President Buhari, our source say, “may have given a green light to his wife, Aisha Buhari, to make input in the new government”. Just as the Adamawa born wife of the president who does not hide her feelings, is up in the game to send Mustapha packing.
Her preferred candidate for the SGF job SaharaReporters learnt, is Mohammed Buba Marwa, former Military Administrator of Lagos and Borno states, whom she wants to install as the new chief scribe of the Federation.
Plans to that effect, according to an impeccable presidency source, have been concluded; “especially as Madam (Aisha Buhari) appeared all smiles when she conferred with oga (President Buhari) and offered convincing reasons why Mr. Boss must go”, the source said.
As to the reasons advanced to convince Mr. President, the source said, “only the president and his wife are in the know. But it seems the wife of the president would spare nothing to see him off”, he added.
But Mustapha’s troubles actually started when he belligerently aligned forces with Jibrilla Bindow, Governor of Adamawa state to humiliate the First Lady and her sponsored candidate, for the Governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Boss had expressed disdain and contempt for Dr. Manhood Halilu Ahmed Modi, Aisha Buhari’s younger brother, who challenged Bindow for the APC Governorship ticket”, another source said.
Not only Aisha Buhari, but Babachir Lawal, former SGF who alongside Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, recommended Boss to replace him, is also spiting fire; having vowed to teach his kinsman (Boss) a bitter lesson for daring to cross his path.
Besides Babachir, some key members of the presidency cabal who hitherto worked at cross purposes with the First Lady, have now realigned with her, relying on the President’s new body language.
Babagana Kingibe, former SGF under Abacha, Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the president, Mamman Daura, among others, have been reported to be trading with caution now, on Aisha Buhari’s interest.
Marwa’s CPC originality is an added impetus, which is why he was appointed to head the elicit drugs elimination campaign, with the intend of rejigging his popularity ahead of time.
Towards the same objective, Marwa who’s operations statutorily, falls under the office of the SGF, has defiantly operated without recourse to the SGF.
Last week, Marwa held nocturnal meetings in Yola spanning few days to assure Adamawa politicians that a new Sheriff was on the verge of emerging.
It is expected that the change of guards which will affect Boss Mustapha, will also consume officials of Adamawa state APC, who were said to have been handpicked by Boss Mustapha and the outgoing Governor Bindow.
This is preparatory to how the 2023 politicking will play out in Adamawa state, particularly regarding how Madam Buhari would want to leave her name in the annals of the state.
