2-IN-1 STORY: Is Buhari’s Vacation Letter To National Assembly On Osinbajo Different From Previous Ones?, Debate Over Buhari’s Letter, Acting President Needless — Lai Mohammed

President Buhari's latest letter to the National Assembly

The choice of words employed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his latest letter to the National Assembly has elicited controversy.

PREMIUM TIMES report continues:

Mr. Buhari had, through the letter read in both Chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday, invoked Section 145(1) of the Constitution to notify the lawmakers of his medical trip to the United Kingdom. It was the fourth time such letter would be sent to the National since his inauguration in May 2015.

“While I am way, the Vice-president will coordinate the affairs of government…” Mr. Buhari wrote, taking a departure from the wording of his previous letters on same subject where he said the vice president would “…perform duties of my office,” while he was away.

A senator who argued that the wording in the latest letter was inappropriate was overruled by his colleagues and Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday.

Debate Over Buhari’s Letter, Acting President Needless — Lai Mohammed

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that the ongoing debate over the status of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Nigeria’s Acting President is a needless distraction.

Mr. Mohammed stated this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC at the Council Chamber, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Controversy arose Tuesday after the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari intimating the Senate of his return to the UK to see his doctors.

The President in the latter stated that while he is away, for a yet to be determined period, Mr. Osinbajo would coordinate the affairs of the government.

A senator, Mao Ohabunwa, had raised a point of order saying Mr. Buhari’s choice of words may affect the status of the Vice President. He was however, ruled out of order by Mr. Saraki.

A human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegoruwa, on Wednesday asked the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Buhari, saying the content of the letter did not transmit full presidential powers to Mr. Osinbajo.

Responding to the controversy on Wednesday, Mr. Mohammed said the whole thing is a “needless controversy and distraction”, adding, “the operative word is Section 145 of the constitution which the president has already referred to.”