Buhari’s Chief Of Staff, Ministers More Powerful Than Osinbajo – Tunde Lemo, Former DG, CBN

By Adesina Soyooye

“The truth is that Ministers (or even non Ministers) who have access to the President are by far more powerful than the VP. The Chief of Staff to the President, in my view, is by far, more powerful than the VP”

As the sudden campaign of calumny being sponsored against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo rages, especially, over his role in the State of the economy of the country, one of the people who should know the truth, has offered an explanation.

Since, Monday, when Osinbajo declared, via a video broadcast, on his Twitter handle, his interest in,  and aspiration to, the office of the President in 2023, seemingly sponsored attacks have been targeted at him.

They say he is in charge of the economy. They point out that he chairs the Economic Council. They say he chairs the National Council of Privatization, and so, is to be blamed for the down-turn of the economy.

But according to Dr Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, such thoughts should be perished.

Aside from the two roles being constitutional, Lemo explained that the Vice President is just a figure head. He exercises no power or influence. The buck does not stop on his table. It stops on the table of  President Muhammadu Buhari who can decide to adhere to the advice/opinion of the members or ditch it.

But more important, Lemo said the Vice President is less powerful than some Ministers who have access to the President, and revealed that: “The Chief of Staff to the President, in my view is, by far,  more powerful than the Vice President.”

He said that while he is presently neutral and not rooting for any Presidential aspirant, he needed to explain how “power is exercised in Abuja.”

Following is Lemo’s explanation, entitled:

V P Does Not Not Excercise Any Power In The Economic Council That He Chairs

” I am completely neutral and currently not rooting for any candidate.

“I must, however, explain the way power is exercised in Abuja, given my experience as CBN Deputy Gov for 10 years.

“The Economic Council that the VP chairs does not exercise any power on the economy. The composition is: VP, HMF,( Hon. Minister for Finance), HMP ( Hon. Minister for Planning), SGF, ( Secretary to the Government of the Federation) State Govs and may be 1 or 2 other ministers.

“All they discuss is how to share excess crude etc.

“Their recommendations are still subject to the President or FED approval.

“The second constitutional role is to chair National Council of Privatization.

“Again all actions are still subject to the approval of the President one way or the other.

The truth is that Ministers ( or even non ministers) who have access to the President are by far more powerful than the VP. Oba kii pe meji laafin, ijoye le pe mefa laafin. The Chief of Staff to the President in my view is by far more powerful than the VP.

“All I am saying is that no one should hold PYO ( Professor Yomi Osinbajo)  responsible for what is perceived as the inadequacies of the past 7( seven) years.

“— Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor, CBN.”