Uncertainty over Buhari’s health clouds Nigeria’s political outlook

Nigeria

Published on Friday, 24 March 2017 Back to articles

President Muhammadu Buhari has formally resumed his presidential duties but uncertainty continues over the true state of his health and how this will affect the country’s governance looking forward (see Nigeria Politics & Security 13.03.2017). Acting president Yemi Osinbajo told the local media on 13 March that he had formally handed over the presidential duties back to Buhari after nearly an hour-long meeting with the returning president. In a bid to settle uncertainty among the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the wider political audience, he also disclosed that all his actions during Buhari’s absence had the president’s approval.

President Buhari has subsequently held a joint meeting with senate president Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives speaker Yakubu Dogara, and chaired the Federal Executive Council meeting on 15 March. He was present during the meeting with the National Economic Council, which is the body composed of state governors and is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He used the meeting as an opportunity to order the immediate release of the second tranche of the London Club and Paris Club debt refund to the country’s States in order that the governors can ease their financial difficulties.

But in the first week of Buhari’s return from a 51-day medical leave, all his engagements have been restricted to the Presidential Villa at Aso Rock which is a noticeable difference from Yemi Osinbajo’s governance, who actively travelled outside Abuja during Buhari’s absence. Sources at the Presidential Villa have told Nigeria Politics & Security that the president has been commencing his working day later and closing earlier than when the vice president was in charge. As acting president, Osinbajo started early and closed late into the night. This raises questions over Buhari’s ability to perform his duties.

Sources within the business community, and even the Presidency itself, are already expressing concern that the favourable momentum in governance gained during Osinbajo’s time in office as acting president will be lost. Some of the key decisions that Buhari had been expected to make immediately on his return have not yet been made.

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