President Muhammadu Buhari has explained the rationale behind his sacking of 35 aides recently.
The affected aides were from the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
It is being said widely that it was carried to ‘clip’ Mr Osinbajo’s wings ahead of 2023.
However, while fielding question from State House Correspondent at Abuja airport upon arriving from London Friday, Mr Buhari explained that it was aimed at enhancing service delivery.
Mr Buhari said: ”It is unfortunate that the recent disengagement of some political appointees from the presidency had been given ‘‘ethnic and political’’ interpretation.
They said 35 people were sacked in the Vice President’s office. We just created some ministries and we reorganised and people are giving it ethnic and political dimensions. It is unfortunate.”
Responding to a question on what next for his administration after a well deserved rest in London, the President said: ‘‘We are going to work harder and be accountable.
“We have tried to make Nigerians understand why we do certain things. Accountability from bottom to top is absolutely necessary.
‘‘Whoever is responsible for government property, [should know] it is public property, it is not personal and he has to manage it according to the law.
‘‘That’s what I expect and I think that we have been around long enough to impress on people that we mean what we say.”
