SAN FRANCISCO, August 07, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says there can be no substitute for President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that the President’s over 90-day-old vacation has not affected the smooth running of governance.
Buhari has been out of the country since May 7 when he travelled to the United Kingdom on medical attention for an undisclosed ailment. The prolonged vacation has attracted widespread criticisms, with human rights activists asking the presidency to disclose details of the health condition of the nation’s number-one citizen.
Today Monday, a coalition of civil society groups led by Charly Boy says they would begin a protest for Buhari to return to the country or resign.
But speaking with newsmen, the Information minister stated that although the President is missed, there was no need for the agitations concerning his health and absence from the country.
According to him, “There is no doubt that we miss the president but I think the government has been functioning very well.
“There can’t be a substitute for the president, no doubt but I don’t think it has gotten to any stage whereby we find the kind of acrimony, agitations that is coming up.
“It is normal for anybody to be ill. When somebody is ill, there are certain things he cannot do but we thank God that Mr. President is improving and he will come back very soon.
“The important thing is that government has been working. We have not missed one single federal executive council meeting since he left.
“Also, we have not missed one single national economic council meeting. Whatever needs to be done is being done because there are serious consultations between the Acting president and Mr President and as such, I don’t see the hoopla about Mr. President being away.”
