Senators at the National Assembly, today, Tuesday, expressed shock on the content of President Muhammadu Buhari to them concerning the status of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when he left Nigeria, on Sunday night, for medical consultation in London.
The Senators said that instead of the President to address Osinbajo as acting President, he referred to him as ‘Coordinator.’
In the letter, President Buhari had said: “I wish to inform the distinguished senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow-up with my doctors in London. The length of my stay will be determined by the doctors’ advice. While I am away, the vice-president will coordinate the activities of the government.”
A Senator from Abia North (PDP), Mao Ohabunwa, (PDP), said that for the sake of clarity, the letter should be sent back to the president, citing section 145 of the constitution.
He argued that there is no word like coordinating president or vice-president in the constitution, saying: “I come with a constitutional point of order arising from the letter you just read from the president.
“Mr. President (of the Senate), I don’t think in our constitution we have anything like coordinating president of vice-president, it’s either you are a vice-president or you are acting president.
“Any letter should be unambiguous and very clear, so I’m saying that this letter really does not convey anything because coordinating has no place in our constitution. We having been having letters like this, you tell us he is the acting president so we know who to deal with as a senate.
“I am saying that this letter for me is not right and maybe it should be sent back.
“This early warning spells serious trouble for the country, said a ranking APC senator.
“President Buhari should be well aware by now of the appropriate and necessary protocol to safeguard our nation’s democracy”.
“In unprecedented acts Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has played essential role in this administration, said a top APC chieftain from the Southeast, he has been loyal and has done everything to win the confidence of the president.”
“President Buhari’s effusive accompanying remarks on his return from the last medical vacation about the VP were even more unprecedented, and I wonder why the letter did not refer to him as acting this time around.”
Senator Obinna Ofodile, a PDP stalwart from Anambra said that Osinbajo has shaped the second office in ways beyond his contributions to the Buhari administration. [myad]
