Osinbajo Briefs Buhari, Says I Am Back As Vice President

Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, afforded the two leaders an opportunity to review some of the policy decisions taken by government while Buhari was away in London for medical vacation.


This is as Buhari, yesterday, transmitted letters to the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, informing the lawmakers of his resumption of duty after spending 49 days in London. Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Osinbajo disclosed that he has since reverted to his position as Vice President. “Oh yes! I’m back to my regular position as Vice President,” Osinbajo noted.

Asked whether President Buhari was impressed with the way he handled the country while he was away, Osinbajo explained that “I think the president was reasonably satisfied.”

On media reports that Buhari may now only delegate state functions to him because of health challenges, Osinbajo said: “I think the President, as you know, has always given me several responsibilities.

“I think what we must recognise is that the way this administration works is that it has always been team work. “Very little is done without the President’s clearance. So, generally speaking, even with responsibilities that are my constitutional responsibilities, we have full discussions on them, we have full agreements on all of those issues.

“It is not necessarily delegation. Yes in some cases, delegation, but by and large, practically everything I discuss fully with him and have his endorsement before we are able to go on and do anything at all,” the Vice President added. Osinbajo said Buhari has given him additional directives on issues affecting the North-East, steps to take in achieving quick passage of the 2017 budget and other strategies to improve the economy.

The Vice President, who said that Buhari was fine and doing pretty well, explained that: “We just had a very long meeting where basically trying to bring the President up to speed as to some of the things we have done while he was away.

“And he has given a few directives on what we should be doing on so many areas, the North- East, budget, the economy, and a wide range of issues.” He said the President was ready to resume work.

“He held a meeting with me for over an hour where we discussed a wide range of issues so his readiness for work is not in doubt at all. In fact, he has over rested,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has received communication from President Buhari on his resumption to duty. Buhari’s letter, dated March 13th, and addressed to Speaker Dogara, read: “In compliance with section 145 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the House that I have resumed my functions as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, 13th March after my vacation.

“Please, accept Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration.” Speaking shortly after the letter was handed over to him by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), Hon. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, Dogara said he will read the letter to his colleague in plenary on Tuesday (today) since the communication was meant for them.

“Tomorrow, I will read this to my colleagues on the floor of the House and thereafter make comments from there,” he said. While presenting the letter to the Speaker, Sumaila commended him for supporting the president and the Executive arm of government. Recall that Buhari had, last Friday, returned to the country after a 50-day vacation to attend to his medical needs.