A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has urged the Senate to “do the needful” if President Muhammadu Buhari
does not return this weekend. He opined that the absence of President Buhari was slowing down the country as some matters required his physical input.
Asked what he meant by ‘the needful’, the lawyer told DAILY POST yesterday that “the needful, according to section 145, is that once there is a substantive president who has not been impeached and who is not dead but there are rumors about his health, the substantive acting president should continue in acting capacity.”
Adegboruwa clarified that the acting president cannot be sworn-in when there is no proof that the President was dead.
“So, what I mean by doing the needful is to read the letter for the extended vacation so that it can become part of the proceeding of the Senate and the acting president will be acting legally rather that the one he is doing illegally now”, he noted.
Adegboruwa also lamented the handling of information of President Buhari’s health status.
“The life of the president should not be shrouded in secrecy. All of us are human beings and we can’t play god.
“But I believe that the issue has not been well handled and it shows the kind of contempt our leaders give to the people.
“The president being a public officer cannot be on vacation indefinitely. The vacation he was authorised expired on February 5.
“The one he recently wrote to the Senate has not been read, has not been adopted on the floor of the chamber to become part of the proceedings.
“As we speak now, the extended vacation is illegal and so our prayer is that he is healed and God should perfect his healing so that he can return to Nigeria and resume his responsibilities of governance.
“But in the event the president is unable to return this weekend as being speculated, I will urge the Senate to resume immediately.
“The luxury of February 24 which they fixed for resumption is no longer tolerable for Nigerians. There are too many issues that the Senate ought to be cognizance of.
“The acting CJN, the appointment has to be settled. Today is February 11 and his tenure in acting capacity expired February 10.
“I call on Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to reconvene the Senate on Monday. This is not the time for vacation; there are serious national issues that ought to be adressed by the Senate.
“If the president does not return, the Senate should reconvene and consider the needful constitutional provisions by which Nigeria will not be run in vacuum”, the lawyer added.
Meanwhile, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity has stated that his principal will not sneak into the country.
