Nigeria has a tourist as president – Lawyer

President Muhammadu Buhari has been described as a tourist who junkets around the globe at any given opportunity.

Inibehe Effiong, a Human Rights lawyer, gave the description while reacting to Mr Buhari’s scheduled visit to the United Kingdom where he is expected to spend two weeks.

The president who returned to the country last week after an engagement in Russia, left the country yesterday for an economic summit in Saudi Arabia.

After the visit, he will journey from the Arab country to London on a private visit which will expire  on November 17.

A similar journey he embarked upon in April without transmitting power to his vice earned him a lawsuit from Mr Effiong who said the action of the president was a violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

While the matter is still pending at a Federal High Court in Lagos, the president has notified the public of another private visit to the UK which will begin November 2.

However, the lawyer, in his reaction on Tuesday, is describing the president as a lawless leader of the country who junkets around the globe at any given opportunity.

“In May, I sued President Buhari and Malami at the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/763/2019 for refusing to transmit a written declaration to NASS to enable Osinbajo become Acting President during his vacation which he tagged a “private visit” from April 25 to May 5, 2019,” Effiong said in a statement reproduced on his social media accounts.

Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

“While this case is still pending before Hon. Justice A. O. Faji, Buhari has now announced that he will be proceeding on another illegal and unconstitutional vacation to the UK which he also tagged a “private visit”. This President is lawless. Buhari has gotten away with murder.

“In the spirit of the rule of law, one would have expected Buhari to either comply with the mandatory requirement of Sec. 145 (1) of the Constitution by transmitting a letter to NASS to empower Osinbajo to become Acting President during his vacation or await the court’s decision.

“The Constitution does not envisage a situation where Nigeria will be without a President or an Acting President. Nigerians have been taken for granted by this President for too long. No responsible leader will abandon his country in times of crisis. The world is laughing at us.

“Buhari has shown disdain for the law. It’s a shame that we have a tourist as President. The same Buhari who has shut our land borders never misses an opportunity to flee the country in search of better foreign services like health care. Hypocrisy is Buhari’s nickname. Shame!” he added.