Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has chided President Muhammadu Buhari for not officially handing over power before travelling out to London for a medical check-up.
It would be recalled that President Buhari on Sunday afternoon departed the shores of Nigeria for London, UK, and is expected to be out of the country for about two weeks.
The President while speaking with State House correspondents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be in charge of the nation’s affairs in his absence.
Buhari stated that Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, are capable of running the country effectively in his absence.
He said: “Well, I cannot claim to be doing the work alone. The government is fully represented; the vice-president is there. Constitutionally when I’m away, he’s in charge. And the secretary to the government and then the chief of staff. So, I have no problem.”
But the verbal handing over is not sufficient in some quarters as they have queried if Osinbajo will truly be in charge during Buhari’s absence.
Adding his voice to the ongoing debate, Senator Sani said such handing over should not be done verbally but President Buhari should have written an official letter to the National Assembly informing the lawmakers of his absence and officially transferring powers to Vice President Osinbajo.
Taking to his Twitter account on Monday, the former lawmaker wrote: “Handing over to VP should be in writing to NASS not verbal.”
Bibian Anekwe News
