President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday started a six-day vacation.
He is expected back on duty on February 10.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, while the President is away, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President.
Adesina said Buhari had already transmitted a letter to that effect to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has begun a short vacation from today, February 5 to February 10, 2016.
“While President Buhari is on vacation, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President.
“In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Our correspondent however learnt on Friday that Buhari may use the opportunity of the short holiday to undergo medical check-up in London, United Kingdom.
The President is currently in London where he attended Supporting Syria and the Region conference on Thursday.
He had left Nigeria on Tuesday for France where he addressed the parliament of the European Union.
According to his itinerary released earlier in the week, Buhari was scheduled back in the country over the weekend.
But our correspondent learnt on Friday that some members of his delegation were already on their way back to the country while the President stayed back in the city.
“Some of the President’s close aides are already on their way back to the country,” the source said.
Buhari had told some Nigerians resident in United Kingdom earlier in the day that his doctors who he has been using since 1978 are based in London.
He said this while telling them the reason why he missed three court sittings when he was contesting the result of the 2003 presidential election in court.
Our correspondent obtained the transcript of his interaction with the Nigerians.
He had said, “The court process during my first attempt at the Presidency lasted 30 months. I only missed four sittings.
“One, when we went to bury late Chuba Okadigbo, my vice presidential candidate.
“The other three times, I came here (London) to see my doctors who I have been using since 1978 when I was in Petroleum.”
Meanwhile, as of the time the Presidency issued a statement on Buhari’s vacation, Osinbajo was not in Abuja.
He was said to be in Lagos where he was expected to attend the monthly vigil of The Redeemed Christian Church of God among other engagements. – Punch.
