Osinbajo vs Buhari: Senate Speaks On ‘Rift’ In Presidency

The Nigeria Senate has stated that it was not bothered over the alleged rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo.

Speaking to newsmen after plenary on Tuesday, the Senate spokesperson Adedayo Adeyeye, said he was not aware that any roles assigned to the Vice President had been withdrawn.

He noted that it was the constitutional responsibility of President Buhari to assign any role to any member of the executive.

According to Senator Adeyeye, even the judiciary can not interfere in the business of the executive arm of government.

He said, “The Senate is not involved with that and we are not concerned about what happens in the executive (or) things that are happening with the Executive.

“I am speaking for the Senate. I do not speak for the Executive and I do not want to concern myself with the issue of the Vice President or the Executive. It is not our business.

“That is the executive arm of government and we do not interfere. Why do we have to do that?

“It is not our concern, why do you want to drag me into something that does not really concern me and that does not concern the Senate.

“So, we are not bothered about that and we are not concerned. I am not aware if any role constitutionally assigned to the Vice President has been taken away from him. Nothing like that has happened.

“Constitutionally assigned duties remain the same. Get it right, The President has the prerogative to assign duties to all those who work with him in the executive.

“He has the constitutional power to (assign roles to his aides.) He can call the Minister of Works and say ‘okay go to that ministry tomorrow, Finance (Minister) go to labour. The Senate will not inquire into that because that is his duties.

“He can say my Vice President, I give you these additional responsibilities. Where is the power of the Senate to investigate that?

“We do not have power… Of course, that will warrant the intervention of the Senate. That has never happened, and that has not happened.

“I do not think that will happen, even judiciary will have a role to play in that as well, not only the legislature, only where the constitution is seen to have been violated.

“I do not think we have any cause to be discussing that, because that itself has not happened. So we are not bothered about that and we are not concerned. I want to tell you that at this moment we are not investigating it.”