04-13-2018, 10:47 AM
Quote:By Saawua Terzungwe
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the National Assembly to avert what it termed constitutional crisis over President Muhammadu Buhari's trip to London.
The party said the President was "shrouding his private visit to London as official" but failed to transmit a letter to the National Assembly.
In a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, observed that Buhari has not conducted a single business of government 72 hours after his arrival in the UK.
"More astonishing is the fact that President Buhari did not transmit a letter to the National Assembly indicating that he was going on a week's vacation ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM).
"PDP demands that the National Assembly save the nation from an imminent constitutional crisis by immediately commencing processes to address the current power vacuum in the country, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to embark on a private trip abroad without officially transmitting power to the Vice President.
"The intervention of the federal legislature has become a national imperative, as the President’s action has put the nation in clear danger.
"Nigeria is at the moment bereft of statutory leadership, including the apparatus of security command, particularly as President Buhari had not indicated a date of return to the country.
"The PDP and of course, Nigerians at large, are particularly worried that in the event of any national emergency, there is no sitting commander-in-chief to take charge.
"It is incontrovertible that President Buhari is on a private trip to the United Kingdom (UK) as he was not received on arrival, by the government of that country; has not had any contact with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May or any high officials of the UK government and has not conducted any official business since his arrival to the country on Monday.
"Since Monday, President Buhari has been holidaying in London and has been unable to discharge the functions of his Office, in total disregard to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, disdain to Nigerians and flagrant abuse of his presidential office.
"By embarking on this vacation and abdicating his official functions without transmitting a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and holding on to power while on vacation, President Buhari acted in gross violation of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
"We know that Mr. President is billed to attend the CHOGM meeting scheduled to hold between April 16 and 20, but has been in London since Monday attending to private matters, while the ship of state is left bare of statutory leadership as nobody even knows when he is due to return to the country," the PDP said.
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-s-u...risis.html