Buhari refrains from handing over to Osinbajo during his two week medical leave in the UK

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will not be writing to the National Assembly handing over the reins of government to vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo during his two week medical vacation in the UK as he believes he is well enough to govern from abroad.

Yesterday, President Buhari arrived in London for a two week holiday, during which time he will meet with his British doctors for a medical check-up. Nigeria's constitution mandates the president to hand over to his vice whenever he is incapacitated and in the past, President Buhari has done this when he has been away for lengthy periods.

This time around, however, presidency officials said that President Buhari will only be undergoing routine medical check-ups, so there is no need for him to hand over to Professor Osinbajo. Presidential spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu, explained that President Buhari has not contravened the laws of the land by not transmitting power to his deputy.

Mallam She said: “He will continue from wherever he is.  The requirement of the law is that if the president is going to be absent in the country for 21 days and more, then that transmission is warranted but in this particular instance, it is not warranted.”

In 2017, President Buhari spent 105 days in the UK recovering, during which period he stayed in London. While the president stayed at Abuja House, the official residence of the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK, his official jet was parked at Stansted Airport, both at the cost of the nation.