President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 on the basis of his integrity. He was elected with his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. By the Constitution of Nigeria, they ran a joint ticket, where if the President is not available, his deputy takes over. Much as the APC and its bigwigs would argue that they helped Buhari to power, it was more of Buhari’s untainted personality and the rock solid commitment to transparency that brought him to power.
He has had his failings just like every president. He has also had his low points as a president. But Buhari has managed to keep his integrity intact, particularly at this period when his health became a challenge for him in the discharge of his duties. For a man, who is 74, Buhari clearly understands that the curtain may draw on his life anytime, just like any other individual.
What is commendable about the president is his respect for the constitution at a desperate time, when many would have done the opposite. Before he left for his medical vacation, he transmitted letters to the National Assembly, informing the Senate and the House of Representatives of his desire to embark on the vacation.
In doing so, the president upheld the Constitution of Nigeria, which in Section 145 of the 1999 (as amended), stated that: “Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.”
In doing that, Buhari left no room for speculation on who is in charge in his absence. The Vice President, Osinbajo, fully took charge of affairs in the absence of the president.
When he failed to make the return on February 5, he also transmitted another letter to the National Assembly informing the legislators of his inability to return.
His Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, had explained that “the President had planned to return to Abuja this evening (Sunday), but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning.
“The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.” Although he has not made his sickness open to Nigerians, the president has not hidden that he was sick. Even as his handlers and minders tried to tell Nigerians that the president was hale and hearty in London, only requiring a rest, the president himself announced to Nigerians on his return on Friday that he was very sick.
He said: “I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including the military with its ups and downs. “I couldn’t recall when last I had blood transfusion….”
He did not stop at that. He also said that he returned on a weekend to rest a bit more while the Vice President would be acting in his stead. Buhari’s sincerity is rare in our clime, especially at a time when most government officials were declaring that the president was ‘hale and hearty’. Buhari confirmed that he was indeed sick. We believe that the President has laid a good example for all leaders in the country to follow.
We cannot forget that it was a similar situation between 2009 and 2010 that made the Sixth Senate to apply the Doctrine of Necessity, when the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was sick.
He left the country without effectively handing over to his then deputy, Jonathan. We also wish to point out that the Constitution in Section 190 made similar provision for governors. It stated: “Whenever the Governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Deputy Governor as Acting Governor.”
But we dare to ask that: How many state governors observe this important part of the Constitution? In most states of the federation, many governors would rather hand over to the Secretary to the State Government or anybody they trust than Deputy Governors, mostly seen as mere spare tyres. It is imperative that leaders at all levels abide by and respect the Constitution of the country.
It is in doing so that the democratic process would be strengthened. While we commend Buhari for his selflessness in this direction, we insist that leaders should not be concerned with self above the state. Buhari has led the way in the respect of the constitution and the openness about his true state of health.
