By Nuel Suji – President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would coordinate the government activities in his absence, even as Senator Mao Ohuabunwa kicked against ambiguity in Mr. President’s letter to Senate.
Buhari who embarked on Medical Trip since last Sunday failed in the letter to address Osinbajo as Acting President in his absence.
Buhari’s letter to the Senate read, “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 doctors’ advice.
“While I am away, the vice-president will coordinate the activities of the government.”
However, Senator Ohuabunwa citing section 145 of the constitution, Ohuabunwa argued that there was no word like coordinating president or vice-president in the constitution.
He said,”I come with a constitutional point of order arising from the letter you just read from the president.
“Mr President I don’t think in our constitution we have anything like coordinating president of vice-president, it’s either you are a vice-president or you are acting president.
“Any letter should be unambiguous and very clear, so I’m saying that this letter really does not convey anything because coordinating has no place in our constitution. We having been having letters like this, you tell us he is the acting president so we know who to deal with as a senate.
“I am saying that this letter for me is not right and maybe it should be sent back.”
But, Ahmad Lawan I while countering Ohuabunwa said,”Mr president, let me say that the point of order raised by my colleague and the explanation that subsequently follows shouldn’t have been and my reasons are simple.
“I still rely on the first paragraph of that letter which Mr president wrote to this senate and read by the president of the Senate and I will read section (145) reads whenever the President transmits to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a written declaration but he is proceeding on vacation…
“Any other word in this letter or indeed anywhere else is irrelevant. I therefore feel that Mr president has done what the constitution requires him to do and I urge this senate not to go ahead to discuss this because its not an issue. We have the budget and so many other serious issues for us to discuss and Nigerians are waiting.”
After the Senate leader submission, Senate President ruled Ohuabunwa out of order saying, “It is a very clear issue and what should be guided by is the constitution and I think that it is clear, the letter has referred to the constitution and there’s no ambiguity in the constitution. So, I don’t think there’s any issue there. Let me first rule you out of order senator Mao. ”
