Medical trip: Osinbajo will be in charge while I am away – Buhari

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo will preside over the nation’s affairs for two weeks while President Muhammadu Buhari is away on a medical trip to London in the United Kingdom.

President Buhari stated this in Abuja on Sunday while briefing reporters at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the nation’s capital before leaving the country.

Buhari said he is not doing the business of running the administration alone, as other key officials are involved including the vice president, the chief of staff, and the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

“Well, I cannot claim to be doing the work alone. The government is fully represented; the vice president is there; constitutionally when I’m away, he’s in charge,” President Buhari said.

The President, who initially planned to embark on the trip to London from Nairobi, Kenya, where he attended the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) 50th-anniversary event, returned home last Friday.

The presidential plane, Air Force 1, took off from the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He also spoke about the forthcoming national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressing confidence that the event will be conducted smoothly.

He added, “Well, they should wait and see. How did we come as a party to take power from the ruling party who had been there before us for so many years? So, we have the capacity, everything will be alright.”

Buhari has come under criticism, notably from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for his trip to London.

The PDP accused him of abandoning Nigerians amid the petrol scarcity and industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), amongst others.