Protesters in their hundred
on Thursday staged counter protest to douse another protest calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to “Resume or Resign” following his prolong stay outside the shores of the country to attend to his ill health.
The protesters under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative while protesting in Abuja said that it was improper to call for the president’s resignation over his ill health.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as, “we stand united for Buhari;” “our President is recuperating;” “Nigeria is moving forward, no cause for alarm;” “Nigeria support war against corruption;” “Nigeria support President Buhari for fighting corruption;” “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria-Buhari.”
According to the Convener, Goodluck Obi, who said that President has not violated any section of the constitution as being painted by #ResumeorResign protesters.
He said that the President has fulfilled the constitutional requirements by transmitting the letter to the National Assembly and also transferred power to the Vice President as the Acting President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also pointed out that the rally was aimed at telling the world that Nigerians are behind the President, noting that there is no vacuum in governance.
Another speaker at the rally, Mr Okpokwu Ogenyi, while faulting those calling on the president to return or resign said: “The provisions of the law on the president’s health remains very clear and unambiguous. No provision of the constitution gave time limit when the president is expected to return and resume his duties if sick as well, it is not found anywhere in the constitution the time frame of an acting president.”
Speaking further, he said, “we all want our President back to his duties, the constitution never stipulate how long a serving president of Nigeria can be away on medical holiday. Anyone demanding the resignation or forced return of the president is daring God. What the constitution requires the president to do in the event of such vacation is to hand over to the vice-president by transmitting a letter to the National Assembly.”
It will be recalled that the popular musician, Charles Oputa, also known as Charley boy, had, early this week, began a protest calling on the president to return or resign.