DSS Withdraws Presidential Villa Pass From Sacked Osinbajo Aides

The recently sacked aides of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have had their pass to the Presidential Villa withdrawn by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Recall that thirty-five presidential aides, mostly who were attached to Osinbajo’s office, were laid off by President Muhamamdu Buhari over a month ago.

Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu, in a statement confirming the sack, had said it was due to an “unprecedented overhaul of the nation’s seat of government” adding that the exercise was “to streamline decision-making, cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost of administration.”

The DSS started withdrawing the Villa pass of the sacked presidential aides on November 21, according Premium Times, adding that the state service went further to blacklist some of the ex-aides from future access into the Presidential Villa.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the massive sack of Osinbajo’s aides, there were speculations that the vice president was being persecuted by “the cabal” in the Aso Rock.

There were also reports that the sack and the withdrawal of some responsibilities from Osinbajo were alleged attempts to whittle down the powers of the vice president.

But the presidency had refuted the reports and noted that there was no rift between President Buhari and the vice president.

The presidency had also dismissed the speculation of rift between the president and his vice as “originating from the minds and mouths of mischief makers.”