The Senate on Tuesday said it received President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter informing it of his intention to extend his medical vacation.
The Upper Chamber said while the President did not use the word ‘indefinite’ in the letter, he didn’t also state exactly when he would return to the country.
The President, had on Sunday through his spokesman, Femi Adesina, informed Nigerians that he had written the Senate for an extension of his holiday beyond the ten days earlier stated.
He said he needed to complete series of tests as recommended by his doctors in UK.
Confirming the receipt of the letter to journalists on Tuesday, Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, said “ …You will recall that we received, before we suspended plenary, a letter from Mr. President which was dated 18th January, 2017, where he informed the distinguished senators that he was proceeding on his vacation for 10 days and this is to meet the constitutional provisions…
“In this second letter, he is informing the Senate that he is extending his vacation because in the cause of that routine medical check-up, there were still some tests his doctors still want to run further and so, because of that, he is extending his stay. This is a constitutional provision and let me say it is within his prerogative to do so and we are in receipt of that letter accordingly.”
Asked if the date of Buhari’s return was stated in the letter or it was indefinite, Abdullahi stated that the letter did not say indefinite “because indefinite is taking the matter out of context.”
“But, then, he said he’s extending (his vacation); that is, beyond the 10 days he had asked for and because the tests that are going to be run are not in his hands (to be determined by him) – it is in the hands of the doctors – he is not giving us a date. But, definitely, he’s extending (his vacation) and I think that is what is important.”
The Senator said he was not sure if the constitution had a specific duration for a President’s absence from duty.
Abdullahi was also asked whether it was compulsory for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to reconvene the lawmakers and read the content of the letter at the plenary on the floor of the chamber.
Abdullahi said, “I am here to speak on behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are in receipt of that letter and we are telling you because Nigerians have been asking. Whatever is reported through whatever medium is not my own business. Our business is what we do here and that is what I know. Now that we have the letter, I am here to say we have the letter and that is what is important.”
When asked to react to the opinion of a lawyer that Buhari’s letter remained invalid until it had been read to the lawmakers, the Senate spokesperson stated that the lawyer was not a senator.
