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The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, says he is still in office.
Newspeakonline recalls that an exclusive report by Premium Times on Monday quoted sources close to the presidency that Enang’s sack would be announced soon and that Senator Babajide Omoworare would be taking over the office.
READ: Buhari reportedly sacks Ita Enang days after N2.3bn Ruga budget claim, appoints Senator Omoworare
But The Punch, reporting on Tuesday, quoted Enang’s Special Assistant on Media, Essien Inyang, as saying that his boss still refers to himself as Buhari’s aide on Senate matters.
He said his Enang could not pick calls to debunk reports of his alleged sack on Monday because he was “slightly indisposed”.
According to Punch, Inyang sent a quote from Enang’s statement during a live radio programme in Uyo on Tuesday morning, where he (Enang) confirmed his own position as Buhari’s aide at the Senate.
Enang reportedly said on the programme, “My name is Senator Ita Solomon Enang, and I am the National Assembly liaison officer — Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate).”
His aide, Inyang, told the newspaper: “Senator Ita Enang said this while speaking on a live interview on Akwa Ibom Mandate, a political programme aired on Planet FM 105.9 Uyo (Tuesday 13th August, 2019 by 10:40a.m).”
Asked why Enang did not answer his calls since Monday when the news broke, Inyang said, “This (conversation) is enough. He (Enang) wasn’t disposed as at yesterday.”
The Presidency on Monday declined official confirmation of the status of Enang, following speculations, that he had been relieved of his position. Enang did not also ract to the report which went viral especially as friends and associates of Omoworare were already congratulating him on his new job.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, refused to speak on the matter, saying “the SGF is in the best position to speak on that.”
Enang also remained inaccessible on Monday, as calls to his two mobile lines were not picked.