Amidst Charged Political Atmosphere, Buhari Begins Holiday On Friday

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – In spite of the tensed and charged political atmosphere in the country, occasioned by the serious battle his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing over defections of some key leaders across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to commence a 10-day working holiday on Friday, August 3, 2018.

This is just as unconfirmed report said the holiday is to enable the President see his doctor for another round of medical checkups.

A statement by President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.

Adesina further said that while the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President.

The Presidential Spokesman said that President Buhari will be spending the holiday in London.

The gale of defections that hit the ruling APC is believed to have given President Buhari and the leadership of the ruling Party serious cause for concern, in spite of the public pretensions and open attacks by the National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, against the defectors.

President Buhari had equally waved off the complaints from aggrieved members of the APC before its national convention, vowing that he was not going to meet with them.  

However, events of the past few weeks saw all that changed as Buhari held several meetings with Senators, members of the House of Representatives and some governors in a bid to prevail on them to remain in the party.

The President’s last minutes efforts failed to achieve the desired results as initial 15 senators, 37 members of the House of Representatives dumped the APC last week Tuesday and was later followed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Governor Ahmed AbdulFatah followed the camp of the defectors on Tuesday while Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi took their turn today.

This is just as it was gathered the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, some serving ministers, more members of the National Assembly are putting finishing touches before announcing their defection any time from Thursday.