It was like a scene from a drama script, which formed a prologue to Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting.
Venue was the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, and the actors were Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, and Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo reportedly witnessed a segment of the show which lasted approximately 10 minutes.
Television footage of the drama showed an apparently livid Abba Kyari talking to Oyo-Ita, a scene interpreted as confrontation over her memo to the President on the Abdulrasheed Maina saga, which inexplicably got to the media.
In the memo addressed to Kyari, Oyo-Ita claimed that the president had knowledge of Maina’s reinstatement, adding that she warned him about a possible public backlash.
Again in the television footage, Oyo-Ita was seen angrily explaining something to the Vice President and gesticulating in the process. That was moments before the swearing-in of Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the launch of the 2018 Armed Forces Emblem.
Before Oyo-Ita and Kyari returned to their respective seats (which were next to each other), the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) had joined the conversation.
Meanwhile, the new SGF, Mustapha, started his job as a peace maker by trying to pacify a visibly angry Oyo-Ita.
Finally, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Ipaye, asked Oyo-Ita to return to her seat as the scene had started attracting the attention of other Council members in the chambers. She promptly did.
Those in the chambers included Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, CJN Walter Onnoghen, APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Jibrila Bindu.
Also present was the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and heads of paramilitary services.