Exactly 100 days since he left Nigeria on Sunday, May 7 for London to attend to his ailing health, controversy has continued to trail President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued absence from the country.

Since Mr. Buhari’s travelled, the presidency has repeatedly tried to assure Nigerians he was getting better and would soon return to the country.

Photos of the president meeting with different categories of public officials and politicians in London, where he is receiving treatment, have been circulated to calm concerned citizens. Also, officials who have met the president including Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo have repeatedly said he was getting better and would soon return to the country.

His aides have also said he would only return when his doctors so advice and that only Mr. Buhari could tell Nigerians the true nature of his illness or indeed his health status.

However, while the latest trip is Mr. Buhari’s longest outside the country, it is not the first time the president would travel on health grounds.

Various individuals and groups have reacted to the president’s medical vacation, giving divergent opinions on the matter.

In his comment regarding the issue, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clark said the section of the constitution that deals with the president’s handing over of power in the event of a vacation, is defective.

“That section 145 says that unless the president himself sends a contrary statement; you cannot do anything; that is the lacuna. Buhari can stay till the end of his tenure; nothing will happen,” Mr. Clark said.

Another lawyer, Liborous Oshoma, listed five questions that he believes Nigerians should address about Mr. Buhari’s medical vacation.

“What is the status of the President health? Who is paying for his medical and or hospital bills? If we (Nigerians) are the ones paying, how much have we paid thus far?

“We read almost every day in the news that Mr. President is recovering fast and would soon return to his seat. Is he in any condition to continue when he returns? Or he will return and go back after a couple of weeks or months? Why is resignation not an option?” the lawyer said.

In another opinion, Razak Atunwa, a member of the House of Representatives from Kwara State, said the government is running smoothly because of Mr. Buhari’s respect for the rule of law.

“With all sense of patriotism and equanimity, it is important to bear in mind that we have a president who is in a situation that is by no fault of his own.

“Having met the constitutional provisions, the president shows he is a man of rule of law. Governance has not suffered and will not suffer for his being away.” Mr. Atunwa, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, said.

Premium Times