Afenifere, Northern Youths Condemn Buhari For Giving Osinbajo ‘Coordinator’ Title

Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical vacation letter to the Senate.

Recall that the Buhari’s letter which was read by president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the plenary on Tuesday, had said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo should coordinate the activities of the government.

The letter had read, “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I wish to inform the distinguished Senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow-up with my doctors in London. The length of my stay will be determined by the doctor’s advice.

“While I am away, the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the government. Please accept, the distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

But the yoruba group in a letter signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin said the letter suggests a deregulation in the office of the President.

The group said, “If on this occasion the President has written to the Senate to say that while away, the Vice President will perform the functions of his office and he now says that the Vice President will coordinate the activities of government, what the letter is saying is that they have deregulated the office of the President.

“It means that everybody will be doing his own thing, Osinbajo will do what is brought to his table, the Chief of Staff will do what is brought to his table. That is not healthy for our democracy, it is dangerous.

“It is a bad signal and the constitution is very clear, that infraction is atrocious. I think there is is a kind of a hegemonous threat on the acting presidency of Osinbajo by that infraction.”

Similarly, president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Shettima Usman Yerima, described the letter as mischievous.

“The situation as it is may lead to a constitutional crisis. The letter written did not state Osinbajo should act as president.

“Whoever wrote that letter did it deliberately to achieve a selfish interest. Those who wrote it did it out of mischief to limit the power of the acting president.

“The government should not tell us that this is a mere distraction because it concerns all Nigerians.”