ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo has dismissed insinuation that certain political forces were putting him under pressure to resign from office to pave way for another politician to assume the president’s position.
Following the departure of President Muhammadu Buhari on an initial 10-day medical vacation, rumours were rife that some politicians had advised him to resign to pave way for a northern politician to become president.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had denied speculations that he contacted some state governors to pressurize Osinbajo to resign in order for him to take over as president.
In a statement refuting the allegation, Saraki had said: “My attention has been drawn to a speculation on some online media about supposed meeting of some governors who held Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to ransom and sought for Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to take over the Presidency,” he said.
“My first initial reaction was to ignore this empty rumour but after being inundated with calls from across the country and abroad, it became necessary for me to make clarifications from our own end.”
“It is a good thing that the Presidency had dismissed the speculation and showed that there is no substance to it.”
“However, I feel it should be known that those behind this baseless, empty and unintelligent mischief are those who do not love this country.”
“Such suggestions as contained in the speculation can only bring ill-will, disunity and crisis to the country and i therefore advise the sponsors to desist immediately. More importantly, these trouble makers should refrain from linking Senator Saraki’s name to their evil plot.”
Speaking to State House correspondents on Monday, the acting President said that he was not under pressure to resign, pointing out that he was elected by the people of the country.
He said: “I am not under no pressure to resign. I was voted for by the people of this nation, myself and Mr President and so the people of this nation have not asked us to resign.”
“I am absolutely not under any pressure whatsoever.”
“The truth is that they have been no pressure from any source asking me to resign.”
Osinbajo also sought to quell anxiety caused by Buhari’s indefinite extension of his medical vacation, saying that he had just spoken with the president and he was in good spirits.
He expressed the hope that once Buhari completed his cycle of medical tests, he should return to the country.
The acting President stated: “The President is hale and hearty. I spoke to the President just this afternoon and we had a warm conversation.”
“He was interested in knowing about the budget process and how far we have gone and the meeting today with the private sector and the economic recovery growth plan and I informed him about the protest march and feedback about what people are saying about the economy. He is in good shape.”
“Just like he said in his letter to the National Assembly, he needs to go for a cycle of tests and once he sees the test results and gets medical advice, we expect him very soon.”
On the actual health status of the president, Osinbajo said only him could reveal that.
He added: “I think that the health status of Mr. President is an issue that only Mr. President would discuss at the appropriate time.
“Again, he is running tests and all of that. Before you will be able to determine your health status, you must be able to say ‘this is my health status, do the test my doctors have advised me to do and will wait for the outcome of the test and know my status.”
The Presidency had on Sunday announced that Buhari had written to the National Assembly to intimate the lawmakers that he has decided to extend his current vacation.
The president left the country on Thursday January 19, 2017 to the United Kingdom for what was initially announced to be a 10-day vacation and was due back in Abuja on Sunday to resume work on Monday February 6, 2017.
But according to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in Abuja Sunday, he asked the legislature to take note of his decision to extend the leave.
However, the statement was silent on when he would now be expected to return.
But it explained that the extension was necessitated by the need for the president to undergo some more medical tests and obtain the results.
It informed that President Buhari has written to the National Assembly on February 5, 2017 (Sunday), “informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.”
The statement terse added: “The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, 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.
“Mr. President expresses his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concern, prayers and kind wishes.”
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