*Show of inclusiveness in governance – Respondents
The action of the President some respondents of The DEFENDER have described as one of those uncommon shows of leadership that Nigeria has witnessed under his administration since it took off on May 29, 2015. They observed that instead of people reading negative meaning to the absence of the President at the FEC meeting, “asking his deputy to preside over such a vital meeting even while he was around should be seen as our heart desire made possible by God whereby our leaders are selfless and encouraging inclusiveness in governance.”
The Nigeria’s Federal Government has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari was absent at Wednesday Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. It said it was normal as the President was attending to other pressing issues and therefore asked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to preside over the meeting.
Ministers had been seated at Wednesday’s FEC meeting awaiting the President’s arrival before Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called for the recitation of the national anthem and presided over the meeting, which lasted three hours.
It was the first time President Buhari would be absent at the FEC meeting since he returned to Nigeria from a medical vacation in London on March 10.
President Buhari had, at that time, told the nation that he would, in some weeks’ time, go back to London for further check-ups.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the president’s absence did not indicate that he was ill again.
According to Mohammed, it is not unusual for Osinbajo to preside over a council meeting even if Buhari is hale and hearty.
He said: “Clearly, when we came in this (yesterday) morning, Mr President was not in the Chambers. Understandably, that has sparked a lot of controversies and agitation among the people.
“Mr President is in town. Mr President is attending to other issues. He looked at the agenda, it was light and he decided that vice president should preside.
“Mr. President is not ill. He’s not sick. It is not unusual for the president to ask the VP to preside. We know it is not unusual. The interest that has been shown was given the fact that the president was away for a while for treatment. So, we are not surprised that people may be wondering is he ill again?
“Tomorrow morning, he will be back in the office. It is not unusual even if the president is hale and hearty for the VP to preside over a council meeting, even when the president is around.
“The fact that Mr President is not in the office does not mean that he is not working. I have just been told now that the Secretary to the Government is already with him in the residence working. So, the fact that you did not see him in the office does not mean that he is not working at all.”
The action of the President some respondents of The DEFENDER have described as one of those uncommon shows of leadership that Nigeria has witnessed under his administration since it took off on May 29, 2015. They observed that instead of people reading negative meaning to the absence of the President at the FEC meeting, “asking his deputy to preside over such a vital meeting even while he was around should be seen as our heart desire made possible by God whereby our leaders are selfless and encouraging inclusiveness in governance.”
