Lawyers differ on calls for Buhari’s resignation over medical trip

A Lagos-based rights activist, Ebun Adegboruwa yesterday said the medical trip embarked upon on Sunday by President Mohammadu Buhari has validated his earlier call for his resignation.

Adegboruwa, who spoke to The Guardian on phone, said from the sudden trip, it is now clear to the discerning minds that the president is incapacitated.
“Anybody, especially some body of his age, can take ill, but the situation be cured by the frequent trips or trying to conceal the true situation from Nigerians.

“The Constitution is clear on this and the president should not be present today and absent tomorrow. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had last week passed a resolution that the president was unfit to work,” he said.

According to him: “The constitutional procedure has been fulfilled, since we cannot continue in this melo-drama. It is not sufficient for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to be in acting capacity, because the situation is creating confusion, but rather, he should be sworn in as a president.”

According to him, Buhari took the same position, during the time of late the Yar-Adua, when he urged him to declare his health status. Another constitutional lawyer, James Ezike supported the call, saying Buhari should have resigned long time ago on account of his ill health.

Another lawyer, Aham Njoku urged Buhari to be more transparent to declare his health status to avod the National Assembly declaring him as unfit. According to him, his absence is taking a toll on governance because Nigerians elected him to govern.

But a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana said by transmitting a letter to the National Assembly, the president complied with section 145 of the constitution.
He stressed that the constitution did not set a deadline for the duration with respect to the medical leave.