Controversy on Osinbajo’s status mere distraction ―FG

THE federal government has described as an unnecessary distraction, the controversy surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the National Assembly informing the lawmakers of his medical vacation.

The letter had stirred controversy as an aspect suggested “while I am way, the Vice-president will coordinate the affairs of government…,” which was perceived in some quarters as “a coup” against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The language of the letter was different from the two previous letters transmitted to the National Assembly before Buhari proceeded on his two previous medical vacation.

The letters the president wrote to the National Assembly on June 6, 2016 and January 17, 2017 both stated: “While I am away, the Vice President will perform the functions of my office.”

But Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, reacted to the controversy after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, saying that what was most important in the latest letter transmitted to the lawmakers was the president’s invocation of Section 145 subsection (1) of the constitution.

“I think it is a needless controversy and just a distraction. The operative sentence is in compliance with section 145 subsection (1). So, any other word is irrelevant,” he said.