The head of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team, Garba Shehu, on
Sunday said Buhari had yet to move to the Presidential Villa, Abuja
because his official residence was not ready for habitation.
Shehu, in an interview with Punch said workers were currently cleaning and refurbishing the President’s official residence. He said Buhari would not move in until that exercise was completed.
Shehu said, “As far as the President is concerned, the place (his official residence) is not ready yet. Workers are cleaning and refurbishing the place. Once the exercise is completed, the President will move in.”
Asked to be specific on how soon Buhari would move in, Shehu simply said it would not take long.
Shehu, in an interview with Punch said workers were currently cleaning and refurbishing the President’s official residence. He said Buhari would not move in until that exercise was completed.
Shehu said, “As far as the President is concerned, the place (his official residence) is not ready yet. Workers are cleaning and refurbishing the place. Once the exercise is completed, the President will move in.”
Asked to be specific on how soon Buhari would move in, Shehu simply said it would not take long.
Meanwhile, personnel of the Presidential Villa are at a crossroads on the direction their work will take.
Punch’s investigation on Sunday revealed that their dilemma was based on the failure of President Buhari to relocate to the State House and his failure to appoint key aides, three days after inauguration.
A Presidency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they were not yet sure of the President’s schedule and itinerary for the week.
This, he said, was because Buhari had yet to appoint a Chief of Staff whose responsibility it is to arrange the President’s day-to-day activities.
He said, “As we are talking now, we do not know his (the President’s) activities for tomorrow (today). We cannot plan for his activities. We do not know which groups he will be meeting or how many people he will be meeting.
“It is when we have an idea of those who he will be meeting that we can schedule them regarding allocation of time and venue.
“These would have been easier for us if a Chief of Staff is in place.”
A security source also said the situation was affecting the security department. He said:
“For now, we are waiting for the two big men (President and Vice President) to move into the Villa so that we can do our jobs. For now, we are only securing the seat of power without the men of power.”
Punch’s investigation on Sunday revealed that their dilemma was based on the failure of President Buhari to relocate to the State House and his failure to appoint key aides, three days after inauguration.
A Presidency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they were not yet sure of the President’s schedule and itinerary for the week.
This, he said, was because Buhari had yet to appoint a Chief of Staff whose responsibility it is to arrange the President’s day-to-day activities.
He said, “As we are talking now, we do not know his (the President’s) activities for tomorrow (today). We cannot plan for his activities. We do not know which groups he will be meeting or how many people he will be meeting.
“It is when we have an idea of those who he will be meeting that we can schedule them regarding allocation of time and venue.
“These would have been easier for us if a Chief of Staff is in place.”
A security source also said the situation was affecting the security department. He said:
“For now, we are waiting for the two big men (President and Vice President) to move into the Villa so that we can do our jobs. For now, we are only securing the seat of power without the men of power.”