- Professor
Yemi Osinbajo reacted to concern that President Buhari did not hand over power
to him
- He said
the president duly handed over power to him
Professor
Yemi Osinbajo has waded into the controversy surrounding whether President
Muhammadu Buhari duly handed over power to him when he left the country.
President
Buhari had left the country on Sunday, May 7 for medical treatment and the vice
president was duly expected to replace him in acting capacity.
On Tuesday,
May 9 however, there was observation from Senator Mao Ohuabunwa that the
president did not properly transfer power to the vice president following a
letter read by Senate president, Bukola Saraki of the president’s medical trip.
The letter
read: “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended), 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 doctor’s advice.
“While I am
away, the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the government.
Please accept, the distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest
consideration.”
Ohuabunwa
criticised the letter saying there was no position of coordinating president in
the constitution and that Osinbajo should have been duly addressed as acting
president.
He said:
“Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is
proceeding on vacation or that he is unable to discharge the functions of his
office, until he transmits to them the written declaration to the contrary,
such function shall be discharged by the Vice- President as Acting President.
“Mr.
President, I don’t think in our Constitution we have anything like
‘coordinating president’ or ‘coordinating vice president.’ It is either you are
vice president or you are acting president and any letter (on transfer of
power) should be unambiguous and very clear. So, I am saying that this letter
really does not convey anything because ‘coordinating’ has no space or any
place in our Constitution.
“We have
been having (receiving) letters like this in which he will tell us who is the
acting president and we will know who to deal with as a Senate. This is the
highest legislative body of any country and if you are sending us a letter, it
should be direct, unambiguous. So, I am saying that this letter, for me, is not
right and maybe it should be sent back.”
Osinbajo in
an answer to a question on twitter confirmed that Buhari handed over power to
him as acting president as specified by the constitution.
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