- Title: Nigeria signals normality by putting Buhari's deputy in charge.
- Date: 22nd February 2017
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (FEBRUARY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING TELEVISION AND TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DRIVER, KUNLE OGUNIYI SAYING: "When he was around, nothing has even done talk less of when he was not around, and I believe Osinbajo they said is acting. He is not acting anything to me because it was all what he is doing is laid down. He has to follow the l
- Embargoed: 8th March 2017 11:38
- Keywords: Politics Buhari Osinbajo Economy Recession
- Location: LAGOS AND ABUJA, NIGERIA/ OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO/ CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: LAGOS AND ABUJA, NIGERIA/ OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO/ CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00864LQDLJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: QUALITY AS INCOMING/ EDIT CONTAINS ORIGINALLY 4:3 MATERIAL
Nigeria's deputy leader is making wide use of powers granted by President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on extended sick leave abroad, as the country seeks to avoid a debilitating power vacuum while it confronts its first recession in 25 years.
The West African oil-producing nation was gripped by instability in 2010 when then President Umaru Yar'Adua spent three months in a Saudi hospital while his aides shrouded his illness in secrecy. His deputy Goodluck Jonathan only took over after he died in the midst of a constitutional crisis.
The Nigerian stock exchange, already hit by recession, has fallen to a nine-month low on the uncertainty over Buhari.
But officials are keen to avoid the mistakes of the past and drive home the message that government work will continue whatever happens.
Before Buhari left home almost a month ago to be treated in Britain for an undisclosed illness, the 74-year-old appointed his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, as Acting President.
Political analyst Bolaji Okusaga says Nigerians want to see and hear from Buhari himself.
"I thought that when the whole speculation and rumour about his death or you know or all of that his alleged death gained ground, what would have actually been the most effective thing to have done at that point would have been for them to actually have had the president speak to us and that can happen via Skype. That can even happen via you know inviting select journalists over to interview him and to speak to him, you know and it can even also happen via broadcast. I mean NTA (Nigerian Television Authority) could take a broadcast you know from wherever he is and actually come and show to us that look our president is in good health you know; that didn't happen. So that's some sought of raised some kind of suspicion," Okusaga said.
Osinbajo has thrown himself into his work, holding cabinet meetings and traveling to the Niger Delta in an attempt to end militant attacks on oil facilities, which cost up to 100 billion U.S. dollars in lost revenues in 2016.
Osinbajo is a Christian lawyer from the commercial capital Lagos in the south. He has shown conspicuous loyalty to Buhari and given no sign that he plans to run for president himself.
The arrangement with Osinbajo ensures the day-to-day running of government business. But the long-term risk is that the Muslim north, where Buhari hails from, might not accept Osinbajo as a permanent solution if the president became incapacitated at some point.
Traditionally in Nigeria, the leadership rotates between north and south to ensure a balance in a country evenly split between Muslims and Christians.
Investors have welcomed the fact that the government will not postpone a long-awaited reform plan intended to stimulate an economy hit by low oil prices, and analysts say Osinbajo has played a role in reassuring investors.
"So far so good you know in his acting capacity, he's held the fort very well for Mr. President I am sure he still takes directives you know even from wherever the president is as regards what he needs to do or what he does not do, or what he does not have to do. You know I also believe he's been mentored by the president. He is been mentored at least they have the opportunity of working together well over a year, so he understands the president's style, understands the president's mission and he is carrying through thus far. I think that's healthy, but I don't want to speculate on capability at this stage. I think that we should just allow things be because we shouldn't give room for fear, which are unfounded at this point," said Okusaga.
Officials refuse to disclose what is ailing Buhari, saying only that he has been having tests and is not in a serious condition.
Diplomats say Buhari has made several visits to Britain to see his doctor, routing official trips even to destinations as far afield as Asia via London so as not to have to declare medical leave all the time.
In contrast to Yar'Adua, whom officials cut off from the world on his sickbed in Saudi Arabia, the presidency publishes almost daily pictures of Buhari receiving visitors in his London drawing room.
In an indication that his British stay might drag on, the speakers of both of Nigeria's chambers of parliament flew to meet Buhari at Abuja House, a Nigerian government residence in west London, according to an official picture.
But some Nigerians say they remain worried about the president's health and the future of their country.
"When he was around, nothing has even done talk less of when he was not around, and I believe Osinbajo they said is acting. He is not acting anything to me because it was all what he is doing is laid down. He has to follow the laid down protocols, what Buhari has left down 'this is what you do, this is what' that is what is happening he's not himself, he is not even acting on his own," said Kunle Ogunniyi, a driver based in Lagos.
"If there is anyway they would set us free from this captive we are into, they should try and put us in the right position. We are suffering, the poor masses are crying. When Buhari was around before he entered into the election, he made a lot of promises for us how he will carry us along, how he will change some of the situation for us, everybody was happy, people that voted for him they were happy and now he's on that seat, from the day one, he entered into that seat, we are facing hell," Chizoba Alaripe, beautician said.
For now investors and Nigerian firms hope Osinbajo will enforce reforms to drum up badly needed investment.
He took advantage of Buhari's absence abroad last year to float the idea of a more flexible foreign exchange policy, which paved the way for an overdue devaluation of the naira. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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