Muhammadu Buhari left for London on
medical vacation.
And given the continued secrecy
surrounding his health status, audible
voices from around the country have been
expressing strong opinions that the relevant
constitutionally empowered bodies should
activate the process for the president’s
removal, or in the very least, a full
disclosure on the president’s health be
made by his team.
Just recently, Concerned Nigerians, a pro-
democracy group, issued an ultimatum to
the president to address the nation via live
video on or before Friday, July 8 or face a
peaceful mass action across the nation.
In a statement signed by the convener, Deji
Adeyanju who is a former director of New
Media for the PDP, and Secretary, John
Danfulani, the group also demanded that a
medical panel be set up to determine
whether or not, the president is
incapacitated.
The 60-day mark which doubles as the
stated maximum limit for a president’s
entitled annual leave, has assumed
especially significant threshold owing
largely to the view fast gaining traction that
should the president exceed it, his fate in
office will be out of his hands.
But this matter is not so straightforward. In
this case, President Buhari embarked on
what he called “a scheduled medical follow-
up”, the length of which he expressly stated
will “be determined by the doctors’ advice”.
This was as contained in the 5th May 2017
controversial letter he transmitted to the
National Assembly titled, “MEDICAL
FOLLOW-UP”, which the NASS eventually
affirmed as duly in conformity with the
provisions of Section 145 of the Nigerian
constitution, effectively laying to rest any
further official controversy.
In light of all these, we look at some
compelling reasons why the president’s
position is not under threat at the moment.
1) Cabinet too loyal! A two third vote
against Buhari far-fetched
On the demand for an open independent
medical evaluation of the president, the
chances are extremely slim. For this to
happen, Section 144, which requires a
resolution of two-thirds majority of all
members of the executive council declaring
the president incapable of discharging the
functions of his office, will have to be
activated.
Just to be clear, members of the executive
council are all appointees of the president.
Considering the loyalty and support which
the president still enjoys from the cabinet, it
is a pipe dream to expect this process to
be activated.
2) Esprit de corp! Overwhelming collective
disregard for transparency
The continued collective disregard for
transparency regarding the health of the
president by the cabinet is proof enough of
their united stand in this anomaly. And as
long as the process for declaring the
president incapacitated remains unactivated,
the National Assembly will be unable to set
in motion the follow-up medical status
verification process, hence allowing the
status quo to persist.
practitioners offer to treat Buhari
3) Impeachment process too cumbersome,
complex
Furthermore, the issue of impeachment as
advocated by some appears quite far-
fetched. For this to happen, a months-long
complex and lengthy process beginning
with a written allegation of gross
misconduct signed by not less than one-
third of the members of the National
Assembly will have to be initiated. This
process will end with a resolution of each
House of the National Assembly supported
by not less than two-thirds majority of all
its members, adopting the report of
investigations into the allegations as
contained in Section 143 of the
constitution. Going through with this
historic process will require a level of
commitment and singular focus that are at
the moment far outside the usual practice of
Nigeria’s legislators.
4) He is clean! Difficult to establish any
case of misconduct
Though gross misconduct is subject to
interpretation, the issue at hand does not
appear even remotely within the realm of
misconduct as the president duly
transmitted the letter constitutionally
expected of him before proceeding on his
medical vacation, and one which was
affirmed by the NASS.
More so, with a NASS leadership led by
members of the president’s party and
backed by a majority of members from the
president’s party, their disagreements
notwithstanding, it is very unlikely that such
an unprecedented step will be taken
anytime soon.
Moreover, there are other regional, political
and even religious interests at play.
5) There is no vacuum! Osinbajo is already
Acting President
Perhaps the most unlikely demand to be
effected is the call for the president’s
resignation. At this moment, it is unclear
what President Buhari’s actual state of
health is, but what is clear is that the
president and his enablers have continued
to advance the narrative that he embarked
on a normal medical vacation to which he
is entitled after fulfilling the constitutional
requirement, and will be resuming his
duties as president sometime in the future.
A consequent argument to this is the claim
that no vacuum exists since the country
has an acting president. The recent widely
circulated personally signed condolence
message on the late Maitama Sule by
President Buhari is another sure proof that
the narrative of his soundness of mind and
progressive journey in recovery as has
consistently been maintained by his team is
not about to be abandoned. No one should
bank on President Buhari resigning!
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