A group known as the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, wants the National Assembly to declare Yemi
Osinbajo as the substantive President in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari who is expected to resume duties today, following the expiration of his 10-days vacation yesterday announced the extension of his vacation indefinitely.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Femi Adesina, the President disclosed that he has sent a letter to the National Assembly informing them of the new development. Reacting to the extension, FHRACC frowned at the action of the President, saying such has created a “vacuum in government.”
FHRACC called on the National Assembly to reject Buhari’s letter informing them of his extended vacation and “pass a motion to make Osinbajo as the substantive President.”
A statement signed by FHRACC’s National President, Alaowei Cleric, on Monday reads, “The absence President Buhari has caused a vacuum in Government. Who said there is no leadership vacuum in the absence of President Buhari? We know that in the dictates of the constitution, there is no vacuum but in practice there is a vacuum.
“Osinbajo as the Acting President will have limited powers to perform the functions of the office of the President as power players are using their connections in the Government to thwart many presidential vetoes. There are some presidential functions begging for attention but the Acting President will be restricted by cabals around the power block to exercise control, while Buhari is not in touch to perform his constitutional duties. You can see that a leadership vacuum is created by the absence of the substantive President?
“Femi Adesina’s sermon that Buhari can stay on leave forever will not work. We believed that he is only manipulating the constitutional lacunas. Had there been time limit for a President to take a leave, would Adesina said Buhari need not to state the time of his coming back? The Presidency should not instigate another around of constitutional crisis like that of 2010. Let them tell Nigerians the true position so that the right thing should be done.
“Now that the Presidency refuses to state when our President is coming back, two things we expect our leaders to do to save Nigeria from the imminent precipice. Let Buhari declared himself unfit to rule or the National Assembly refuse the letter of extension and pass a motion to make Osinbajo as the substantive President.
“To us, these are the only two things that will save Nigeria from the needles brickbats. It is dangerous for Nigeria not to have a substantive leader at this critical hours. We know very well that the Acting President is only performing ceremonial functions in the Government. Nigerians are not strange to what happened in 2010. Buhari can stay in UK or elsewhere for as long as it can take him to treat himself but such should not be at the detriment of Nigeria’s survival. We pray for his speedy recovery.”
