I’m back as President! ―Buhari to NASS

The National Assembly on Monday formally received a letter from President Muhammodu Buhari in which he informed the Parliament that he was back from the Medical Treatment in the United Kingdom and had resumed duty as the President.

Buhari who returned to the Country last Saturday transmitted a letter to the National Assembly on May 7th 2017 saying he was leaving for the United Kingdom for Medical Treatment.

He relinquished power to his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to become the Acting President in his absence.

In the letter brought to the NASS in the early hours of yesterday, the President informed the lawmakers that he was back on his seat as the President and Commander of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The President spent a hundred and five days in the United Kingdom treating health-related matters.

The letter was brought to the House of Representatives by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (House of Representatives) Hon. Ismaila Abdulrahman Kawu.

The letter which addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and dated 21st August 2017 reads:

“In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the House that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday 21st of August, 2017, after my medical follow-up n the United Kingdom.”

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the transmission of the letter, Hon Kawu disclosed that transmitting the letter of the President’s return to the Parliament was a constitutional requirement and that a similar letter had been transmitted to the Senate.

When asked if he was aware that the lawmakers were on their annual recess, Kawu said, “even though the National Assembly is on recess, there is robust administrative machinery in place that would ensure that the president’s letter is properly attended to.”

The former lawmaker pointed out the most important issue was that the president has transmitted the letter in a prompt and timely fashion.