Did you know that Senate President Bukola Saraki was “Acting President” of Nigeria for approximately 10 hours?.
Yes, constitutionally, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s tenure elapsed midnight May 28, so from one minute past 12, May 29 till 10:30am when Buhari and Osinbajo were sworn-in for a second term, Nigeria had no President nor Vice President.
Igbere TV had reported that President Buhari and VP Osinbajo were sworn-in for a second term on Wednesday at a low-key event at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Reacting, Osinbajo at a dinner organised in honour of President Buhari and himself, at the State House Banquet Hall, thanked Saraki for not taking advantage of the vacuum in power before the presidential inauguration.
He said: “Something interesting happened earlier today; I am a lawyer and a law teacher and I like to test and interrogate legal scenarios.
“At one minute past midnight today, the four-year term of the President and I ended by effluxion of time.
“So, from one minute past 12 of last night, May 29 to about 10:30 am when we were sworn in for a second term there was no President or Vice President.
“Interestingly nothing went wrong, all was okay; when such a situation arises, it is the Senate President who acts as President.
“So, when I arrived at Eagle Square this morning, some may have noticed that the Senate President and I were enjoying a joke.
“He said to me jokingly ‘You better be careful, you know I’m the acting President now’; so, we thank the Senate President for not doing anything funny.’’
Igbere TV State House correspondent observed that Buhari was conspicuously absent at the dinner held in his honour.
