Yoruba leaders differ on VP’s removal as economic team head

Some Yoruba leaders have expressed divergent opinions about the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to replace the Economic Management Team (EMT) headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to be led by Prof. Doyin Salami.

While some described the decision as a deliberate ploy to whittle down the influence of the Vice President and a signal of what to expect by 2023, others said the President took a wise decision by appointing economic experts to handle his economic policies.

National Publicity Secretary of a Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told The Guardian that though the Yoruba have not been fairly treated by this government but “we should consider Osinbajo’s performance as head of economic team in the last four year and ask if he has the capacity to continue.”

He said: “We should also begin to x-ray his relationship with President Buhari.

“It may also be part of political calculation and what to expect in 2023. But the truth is that Yoruba have not been fairly treated by this government considering security challenges and other peculiar problems confronting us in the South-West.

But the erstwhile Secretary-General of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, lauded the President for bringing in professionals to handle the economy of the country.

He said the disbanded EMT was populated by non-economic experts and that could be part of failure of the government to make meaningful impact to resuscitate the economy.

He said: “Politics apart, I have gone through the members of this new team and we can see that they are not only professionals but also not members of the cabinet. They are independent and have capacity to hold on to their views.

“Osinbajo is a legal expert and not an economist.”

Also, Elder Idowu Adebimpe said: “Yoruba should be circumspect about this government and not rule out the possibility of reducing the influence of Osinbajo because of his closeness to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who I understand, has ambition to succeed Buhari but some northern powers are working against his ambition.”