President stops two members of his team from resigning

President Muhammadu Buhari prevented two members of his inner circle from tendering their resignation letters, Aso Rock sources have disclosed to Pulse.

Last week, Buhari suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director General Ayodele Oke.

Oke was suspended after the NIA claimed ownership of the N13B found in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, recently.

SGF Lawal was asked to take a break from his desk after the senate alleged that he had awarded a grass cutting contract in Yobe State worth N200M to a company he owns.

The N200M came from funds meant to rehabilitate a war ravaged north east region of Nigeria, a senate committee had claimed.

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Following the suspension of the duo, Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and DG of the DSS Lawan Daura approached President Buhari and asked to exit their roles in the presidency, top ranking state house officials disclosed to Pulse on the basis of anonymity because they weren't authorised to comment on the subject.

"When Buhari suspended Oke and Daura, he sent out a message to everyone working with him. The President also charged the committee investigating the N13B found in Ikoyi to interrogate just about everyone linked with the money. It is possible that Lawal wasn't suspended because of the grass cutting contract, but because of something deeper", said the source.

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The Villa source added that; "Daura of the DSS and Kyari probably have something to do with the NIA money in Ikoyi because they told Baba (Buhari) that they would like to leave government soon after SGF was suspended.

"In the case of Daura, he took his resignation letter to Buhari but Buhari rejected it. Buhari clearly told him that he should wait for the committee to complete its sitting."

was also told that the suspension of Lawal has sent jitters down the spines of several officials within the presidency who have been engaging in illicit deals.

Kyari and Daura have been rumoured to be members of the presidency cabal.

Suspended Lawal famously declared that he is a proud member of that cabal.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had in his memoof 2016, asked Buhari to dispense with the services of Kyari and Lawal because they were hurting his administration.

El Rufai had written the following to Buhari at the time: “The two officials whose titles may enable them function as such, generally alienate those that contributed to our success.

“The Chief of Staff is totally clueless about the APC and its internal politics at best as he was neither part of its formation nor a participant in the primaries, campaign, and elections".

The President's spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, were not immediately available for comments before press time.