Buhari leaves for two-week medical check-up, says Osinbajo in charge of govt

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday embarked on a two-week medical check-up in London where he has been seeking medical attention since assumption of office as a democratic leader.

Mr Buhari was initially billed to have departed on Friday from Kenya where he attended a UNEP event but returned to Abuja after the programme.

His spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the president will now depart on Sunday and not as earlier scheduled.

Responding to State House Correspondents, before his departure to the United Kingdom, on wether his absence won’t affect the smooth running of the government, the president said the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be in charge while he is away.

“Well, I cannot claim to be doing the work alone,” Mr Buhari said. “The government is fully represented – the Vice President is there, constitutionally when I am away he is in charge; and the Secretary to the government and the chief of staff. So, no problem.”

He did not confirm wether he complied with the constitution by writing to the National Assembly in that regard.

During his first term, the president usually transferred power to Mr Osinbajo whenever he goes on medical tourism until in 2018 when the latter sacked Lawal Daura, the then director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) for authorizing the invasion of the national assembly, an action that drew massive condemnation.

Mr Osinbajo appointed a replacement which Mr Buhari removed and replaced when he returned to the country and has since then refused to transfer power to his vice whenever he is travelling out of the country for a long time.

Defending their principal, presidential spokespersons argue that he could rule the country from anywhere he is.