SAN FRANCISCO, Fabruary 06, (THEWILL) – Following Femi Adesina’s disclosure that President Muhammadu Buhari would be prolonging his 10-day vacation in the UK to complete and receive the results of some medical tests, a human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN has called on the President to, as the father of the nation, physically address citizens of the country via Skype.
The constitutional lawyer, in a statement titled: ‘Legal And Political Implications Of President Buhari’s Continued Stay Abroad’ asserted that Buhari’s prolonged holiday period abroad has placed Nigeria “on ethno-religious tenterhooks, dangerous precipice, uncomfortable tension, anxiety and a dark pall on government and governance”.
Buhari, who last month left Abuja for the UK on a 10-day vacation, has since extended his leave and on Sunday notified the National Assembly of the extension, according to Adesina, who is the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
Ozekhome said in the statement: “On the political implications of President Muhammadu Buhari extending his medical/holiday period abroad, it keeps the nation on ethno-religious tenterhooks, dangerous precipice, uncomfortable tension, anxiety and a dark pall on government and governance.
“It reminds one of the dark better forgotten days of the Yar’dua brouhaha when what late Dora Akunyilu described as “the cabal” unceremoniously seized the reins of government and held the nation to unspeakable ransom.
“God forbid a repetition of history. God forbid us behaving like the Bourbons of European history who learnt nothing and forgot nothing.
“On the legal implications, it is constitionally provided that once the president transmits his absence or inability to act to the National Assembly, then the Vice president Acts in his place.
“This means: that the VP takes full control of governance and government apparatus, thus leaving no vacuum in governance . He does it till the president returns.
“For crying out loud, let PMB address the nation physically on Skype. Let us see him. He is President of Nigeria, father of the nation.
“He belongs to government and the nation. This means Nigeria. He lost his anonymity and individuality the day he was voted into office as president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The only privacy he has is in his wife’s kitchen, his parlour and the other room.”
