Gunshots Unsettle Presidential Villa

… As First Lady Engages Buhari’s Aide • PDP Blames Security Breaches, Disorder On Leadership Failure

THE infighting in Aso Rock is far from being over, as gunshots and fresh disagreement between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and powerful aides loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari recently rocked the Presidential Villa.

The fresh tussle for power between Buhari’s aide and Private Secretary, Sabiu ‘ Tunde’ Yusuf, and the First Lady blew open last Thursday.

Yusuf, who recently returned to Abuja from Lagos, allegedly failed to observe selfisolation.

The Guardian learnt that trouble began, when Mrs. Buhari’s security aides reportedly approached and asked Sabiu to self- quarantine for 14 days before he could be allowed into the Villa.

Sources disclosed that the President’s aide did not take this lightly, as he promptly invited the police to take action against the First Lady’s aides, a development that led to an altercation and subsequent arrest of the First Lady’s aides.

Pandemonium allegedly broke out in the Villa on Thursday night, when the First Lady, accompanied by her children, Zahra, Halima and Yusuf, led a team of policemen alongside her Aidede- Camp ( ADC) to confront Sabiu, following his flagrant refusal to self- isolate after his trip to Lagos to see his wife, who recently put to bed.

Another account alleged that Sabiu had travelled to London on a business trip with a well- known oil magnate from Lagos State.

The Guardiangathered that it was Sabiu’s attempt to leave Aso Rock premises in the midst of the melee that led to the reported shooting, as he made to dash through an escape route.

A source, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, disclosed that police officers attached to the First Lady and Sabiu came out of the Villa through a route adjoining the Artillery Battery gate in the State House. He said: “At about 6pm, I saw about four police officers following Sabiu. He was wearing blue caftan and was barefooted. We were wondering if anything had happened to the President, as Sabiu is a personal aide to the President and very influential.

“There was a waiting vehicle, with a driver and one other person. Immediately Sabiu entered the vehicle, the police officers started struggling with the driver, though the car was in motion. It nearly hit other vehicles at the park. “The driver managed to control the steering, even as the police officers from the First Lady’s office made attempts to stop it without success. They then ordered that the barricade that leads to the entrance gate be closed. Unfortunately, the security personnel at the gate had closed for the day and the barricade was up. As Sabiu’s vehicle crossed the gate, three gunshots were heard, but the vehicle managed to escape and sped off.”

However, there were conflicting reports on the gunshots at the State House, an unusual incident that is witnessed only during military coup. A source said the shots were aimed at deflating the escaping vehicle’s tyres, to arrest Sabiu. Another account said the gunshots were fired into the air to frighten and stop the fleeing vehicle.