President Muhammadu Buhari has said he would only
return to Nigeria when his London doctors certify him well enough to do so.
“… I am extending my leave until the doctors are
satisfied that certain factors are ruled out,” Mr. Buhari said in a February 5
letter to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, informing the National
Assembly of the extension of his vacation.
The letter was exclusively obtained by PREMIUM
TIMES on Saturday.
Although snippets of the letter were publicised by
the presidency and the Senate on February 5 and 6 respectively, this is the
first time the entire text and copy of the correspondence would be made
available.
The President wrote, “Further to my letter dated
18th January 2017 in which I notified the Distinguished Senate of taking part
of my annual leave.
“During my leave, I took the opportunity to have
routine check-ups and consult my long standing doctors in London.
“In the course of the routine examinations, certain
test result indicated the need for a course of medications and further
appointments have been scheduled for next week.
“I am therefore notifying the Distinguished Senate
that I am extending my leave until the doctors are satisfied that certain
factors are ruled out. In the circumstances, the vice president will continue
to act on my behalf.
“Please accept,
Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Mr. Buhari had on January
18 written the National Assembly, notifying the legislature that he was
proceeding on a 10-day leave and temporarily transferring presidential power to
Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.
The leave was supposed to
last 10 work days, between January 23 and February 6, according to the letter
transmitted to both chambers of the National Assembly.
The President, whose real
medical condition remained unknown, was expected to arrive the country on
February 5 for resumption of work on February 6.
But the extension of his
vacation means Mr. Osinbajo will continue to exercise presidential powers for
days or weeks to come.
This is the third time Mr.
Buhari has transferred power to Mr. Osinbajo since the two leaders were
inaugurated in May 2015.
The first time was on
February 5, 2016 when the President embarked on a five-day vacation; and the
second was in June 2016 when Mr. Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom for
treatment of what the Presidency described as ear infection.
A formal notice to both
chambers of the National Assembly on the president’s intention to proceed on
leave and hand over power temporarily to the vice-president is in compliance
with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution.
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