The presidency has declared that it is unnecessary for President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit power to the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo before his latest medical trip to London.

The stance of the presidency on the issue was made known when Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu appeared on a Channels Television programme on Tuesday, March 30.

The presidential media aide said Buhari has not contravened the laws of the land by not transmitting power to Professor Osinbajo while away from the country for a number of days.

His words:

“He will continue from wherever he is. The requirement of the law is that the president is going to be absent in the country for 21 days and more, then that transmission is warranted. In this particular instance, it is not warranted.”
Before he embarked on the trip, President Buhari met with the service chiefs where he directed them to identify the leaders of bandits and kidnappers and take them out to restore confidence in the areas affected.

He stated that the criminals would no longer dictate the tone, adding that he was aware of plans by individuals who constitute themselves as authorities to undermine the efforts of the central government.

Since assuming office, the president has embarked on several trips to the United Kingdom to seek medical care.

Shehu said the president was not sick in any way, adding that it was just a routine medical check-up just as he had done in the past.

Shehu had earlier told journalists in Abuja that the president has always had medical appointments abroad even before he assumed office.

Shehu noted that it is only somewhat different this time because the president did not make any such travel in 2020 obviously because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The presidency had on Monday, March 29 announced that Buhari will proceed to London for a routine medical check-up.

This was announced by his spokesman, Femi Adesina via a short statement posted on his Facebook page, adding that Buhari is due back in the country during the second week of April 2021.