BUHARI’S DEATH RUMOUR: 6 Important Things Osinbajo Has Done as Acting President
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in the United Kingdom on a 10-day vacation which started on Monday, January 23 and will end on Monday, February 6.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was given the responsibility to act as president in the absence of Buhari.
Since Buhari’s absence, there have been rumours concerning the health of the president. There was a even a rumour that the president was dead but the presidency has since debunked it and presented ‘photo evidence’ to prove Buhari is hale and hearty.
This is not the first time Osinbajo will be playing the role of president since Buhari took over power on May 29, 2015. Buhari has gone on vacation abroad three times and all those times, Osinbajo has acted on his behalf.
The first time was in February 2016 when Buhari took five days leave. The second was June, 2016 when Buhari traveled to London to attend to an ear infection.
Below are some of the activities Osinbajo has carried out as acting president.
1. Inauguration of task force on rice and wheat production
In June 2016, while Buhari was away, Osinbajo inaugurated a task force on rice and wheat production, while stating that feeding the nation’s population was the focus of Buhari’s administration.
2. Meeting with governors of Niger Delta states and the Service Chiefs over militant attacks
Acting as president in June 2016, Osinbajo held an emergency security meeting at the State House in Abuja. In attendance were all governors of oil producing states, all the four Service Chiefs, minister of defence, Dan Ali; minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachichuwu; the special adviser on Amnesty Programme, Gen. Boroh and others.
3. Chaired the second Presidential Business Forum
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, January 23, Osinbajo stressed the need for full public/private partnership in the salvation of Nigeria’s ailing economy.
4. Chairing the meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
Whenever Buhari is away, Osinbajo as acting president presides over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. However, the FEC meeting he chaired on Wednesday, January 25, was trailed by controversy. Repot surfaced that he was under pressure from Nigerian governors to resign as vice president amid rumours trailing Buhari’s health. This resignation pressure rumour was quickly debunked by Buhari’s political adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
5. Launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME Clinic) in Abuja
The media launch of the federal government’s Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Clinic, (MSME Clinic) in Abuja held on Tuesday, January 24. Osinbajo, who launched the project said it would serve as a one stop shop to address challenges faced by small business owners.
6. Briefed on the 2017 Appropriation bill
On Monday, January 30, Osinbajo met with the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who briefed him on the progress made so far by the Senate in the consideration of the 2017 Appropriation bill at the National Assembly. The meeting was said to have been attended by a governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
