Buhari’s London medical trip: Transmitting power to Vice-President unnecessary, says Presidency

Tongues have been wagging as to why President Muhammadu Buhari left the country yesterday on a 14-day medical vacation without transmitting power to the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) but the Presidency dispelled it as a non-issue.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to London for medical checks does not warrant transmitting power to his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, since he was staying for just two weeks,” the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a TV interview monitored by Persecondnews.

He also berated naysayers over insinuations that his principal embarked on emergency medical trip to the UK.

Featuring on Channels TV programme, “Politics Today”, Garba said: “Before he left, he just finished a meeting with security chiefs. He had an excellent chat with the vice president, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief of Staff, so he has taken it all around.

“If it is warranted that he signs documents, these are transmissible by wire, the internet is there and the president is equally internet savvy, therefore, work can continue without any obstruction from whichever location he is.

“He will continue from wherever he is. The requirement of the law is if the President is going to be absent for 21days or more, then the transmission is warranted. So in this particular case, the president is staying for only two weeks.”

Commenting on the trip to London for a “medical checkup”, Garba said: “It is a medical trip, and there is absolutely no urgency or emergency. The president is not in any sick condition. It is a routine medical checkup. The president has overtaken this with a set of doctors that he has known over many years.

“He has done this before he came into office in 2015 and has continued to do that without any disruption.

“For last year, 2020, he couldn’t make it because of travel restrictions that was caused by COVID-19. It’s a routine and we are hoping that the president comes back after the check up.”

On whether doctors visited the President during the lockdown in 2020, Garba also said: “The President enjoyed good round of health. When his classmates come visiting, you will know that the President is doing well.

” He chose this moment because it is like a holiday season as Friday is a national holiday, so he is taking advantage of the Easter season.”