Akin Alabi, House of Representatives
member representing Egbeda/Ona federal constituency, has weighed in on the
criticism that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari
travelled with a bill to London for Buhari’s assent.
Alabi pointed out that in a
presidential system of government as practiced in Nigeria, the position of the
Chief of Staff is more powerful than that of the Vice President.
Kyari
presented the amended Deep Offshore Act to Buhari in London on Monday.
However, the lawmaker insisted
that the Chief of Staff is the assistant President.
In a series of tweets, Alabi
pointed out that the Vice President is “merely a stand-in for the president.”
He wrote: “Whether you like it or
not, in a presidential system of government (eg, US, Nigeria), the post of the
Chief of Staff is more “powerful” than that of the Vice President. He is the
assistant President. The Vice President is a stand-in for the president.
“It is NOT the duty of the Vice
President to take a bill to the president. It’s the job of an assistant. Like
the Chief of Staff.
“The Vice President has been
excellent performing his constitutional duties and the ones assigned to him.
“If the President decides NOT to
see Vice President Osinbajo as a PA, which I don’t think he should, then I’m
100% in support of that.
“I understand the political
agenda of the noisemakers but anyone ready to learn should learn.
“I don’t know whether there are
problems between the Chief of Staff and the Vice President. Maybe there is.
It’s politics and it happens everywhere. But with this bill signing issue,
there is nothing out of the ordinary for the Chief of staff to bring a document
for the president.”
Little minds. How can a Chief of Staff that took no public oath of Office to defend d Constitution be more powerful than a Vice President of Nigeria who took such an oath. Should d President resign today, will d Chief of Staff take over or will d VP take over by our Constitution? People should clear their heads before saying things
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