Osinbajo returns to Abuja after whirlwind trip to London to confer with Buhari

ACTING president Professor Yemi Osinbajo returned to Abuja early this morning after a whirlwind trip to the UK where he went to confer with ailing President Muhammadu Buhari  currently recuperating  in London.

Over the last two months, President Buhari has been staying at Abuja House in London, the official residence of the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK, where he is recovering from an unspecified illness. Before leaving Nigeria, he handed over power to Professor Osinbajo but over recent weeks, there appears to have been concerted efforts to undermine the acting president by what has now become known as the Aso Rock cabal.

Despite President Buhari leaving specific instructions that professor Osinbajo runs the government and all matters should be passed through him, several people close to the president are said to still take matters to him in London. A few weeks ago, President Buhari refused to meet with several politicians and turned down offers to see files presented to him, asking them to run them through the acting president.

Over the last week, however, things appear to have got further heated up with several politicians said to have met in Saudi Arabia where they hatched a plot to grab power. This was exacerbated by a recent rift between the presidency and the National Assembly when senate president Bukola Saraki said the senate would no longer ratify the names of nominees presented to it.

Senators were unhappy with the presidency's constant presenting of Ibrahim Magu to it for confirmation as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Several senators are under investigation by the commission and they are not happy with the ferocity with which Mr Magu is pursuing them, so have refused to confirm him in the role in a substantive capacity.

Irked with the constant undermining of his authority by the cabal and their attempts to jostle for power, President Buhari asked Professor Osinbajo to come to London to see him to review the matter. Professor Osinbajo arrived last night aboard the presidential jet and returned to Abuja early this morning.

Laolu Akande, a presidential spokesman said: "Acting president Osinbajo is now back in Abuja from London. He will be presiding over the Federal Executive Council meeting this morning which starts at a 11am at the council chambers in Aso Rock."

It is believed that President Buhari and Professor Osinbajo met for an hour but the details of their discussion have not yet been made public. It is believed the visit will have frightened the cabal though as it shows President Buhari is solidly behind his deputy and this latest development may have taken the wind out of their sails.