Osinbajo will not act when Buhari goes on private London visit from this weekend

The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari will be embarking on a private visit to London after attending the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

A reliable Presidency told our reporter that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would not act on behalf of the President during his two weeks London trip because, according to the source, “the law does not say the president cannot embark on a private visit that does not extend beyond the 21 days within which the President was constitutionally mandated to transmit a letter to the National Assembly empowering the Vice President to act on his behalf”.

Section 145(2) states the conditions under which the vice president should act on behalf of the president if the president fails to transmit the written declaration to the NASS within 21 days of his absence.

The Economic Forum of the Future Investment Initiative will be holding from Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 and President Buhari is expected to perform Lesser Hajj immediately after the forum.

Adesina stated that, on the sideline of the economic forum, President Buhari, who will be departing Abuja today, would hold bilateral talks with His Majesty King Salman and His Majesty King Abdullah ll of Jordan.

“On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the President will participate in the High Level Event titled “What is Next for Africa: How will Investment and Trade Transform the Continent into the Next Great Economic Success Story?” with Presidents of Kenya, Congo-Brazzaville and Burkina Faso.

“At the end of the summit, President Buhari will on Saturday Nov. 2, proceed to the United Kingdom on a private visit,’’ he added.

According to the presidential aide, President Buhari is expected to return to Nigeria on Nov. 17.