Oyegun: Buhari’s wish is for govt to function effectively in his absence

John Oyegun, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday said the wish of President Muhammadu Buhari is for government to continue functioning “efficiently and effectively” in his absence. 

On January 19, Buhari handed over power to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo before proceeding to the UK on a medical vacation.

He has since extended his leave indefinitely, citing medical advice.

Speaking at the national working committee (NWC) meeting of the party in Abuja, Oyegun said the absence of the president had no effect on governance, but rumour mongers were trying to create instability.

“What makes me happy in spite of these negative speculation and attempt to destabilise the polity is that, thanks to his respect for due process and the constitution of this nation has left a structure that is functioning very effectively in spite of his unfortunate absence,” Oyegun said.

“One can say quite clearly that the wish of Mr President is that the government will continue to function efficiently and effectively and that the party also should continue and proceed to execute its normal duties and functions.

“Today, the papers were replete with all manner of speculation which has become the past time of the social media to carry all manner of fake and totally out of line speculation as to any step that we take on virtually any issue. I think this is something that we have to talk about later.”

He said the meeting, which had some APC governors in attendance, did not have anything to do with Buhari’s health.

“It is important to say that our meeting today has absolutely nothing to do with the health status of the president. This meeting is just one of the series of meetings we are holding in the run off to the non-elective national convention,” he said.

“We have held consultation with our leadership in the senate, in the house of representatives, we are going to hold consultation with the ministers as part of the preparation for the national convention, which is a mandatory requirement.

“It is a mandatory mid term non-elective convention and the purpose is to allow us as a party and as government to sit down and see how far we have gone, what we have done right, access ourselves by bringing our leaders from all over the country to sit us once every two years and exchange ideas and listen to the achievement of their government.”

Some of the governors in attendance were Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi) Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Simon Lalong (plateau), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).