Adesina also noted that the incident occurred just nine days after he assumed his position as the presidential spokesman.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Femi Adesina, a former Media Aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed that his former boss didn’t want him to issue the statement congratulating ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara after their controversial emergence in 2015.
He made this known in a tribute to the late ex-President, while recounting how he balanced loyalty and professional judgment during his early days as the president’s media adviser.
He noted that the incident occurred just nine days after he assumed his position as the presidential spokesman.
According to Adesina, Saraki and Dogara secured leadership of the National Assembly contrary to the preference of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and this made it difficult for Buhari to acknowledge them.
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He added that he had to convince him that while their emergence was seen as rebellious, it remained within the bounds of constitutional order.
“I told the President we needed to congratulate them. He balked. But I stood my ground. He said no, I also said no. I said it would portray him as undemocratic,” Adesina wrote.
He went on to say Buhari eventually agreed and allowed the statement to be issued, only making a slight addition to the final text.
“At the end of the day, he reasoned with me and the statement was written, with him just adding one word,” he further noted.
Adesina continued, “Keeping to his word is part of the famed integrity. Argue with me. If you have a better point, I’ll agree with you.”
