The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said that his absence from the country would not affect the running of government as the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who would be assisted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, as well as his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, would be in charge.

Buhari stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents shortly before departing the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for London on Sunday.

According to the presidential aide, Femi Adesina, Buhari is expected to be in London for two weeks.

He also shared pictures of the President’s departure on his Facebook page.

The Presidency had on Friday in Abuja said the President’s return to Abuja from Nairobi does not abort his earlier scheduled trip to the United Kingdom for a routine medical checkup.

The aircraft conveying the President, which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 1 pm, was initially bound to proceed to London.

Buhari attended the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme in Nairobi, which was held from March 3 – 4, 2022, where he called for broader collaboration amongst UN member states to combat climate change.

On the London trip, Buhari said,”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, And the Secretary to the government and then the chief of staff. So, no problem.”

In an earlier statement on Monday, Adesina said, “He (Buhari) will thereafter proceed to London for routine medical checks that will last for a maximum of two weeks.”

The announcement attracted heavy criticism from Nigerians who noted that the President was leaving the country at the time of dire petrol scarcity and industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, amongst others.

In a statement signed on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Debo Ologunagba, advised Nigerians to fend for each other as “Buhari has abandoned” them.

The PDP argued that Buhari’s decision to jet out to the United Kingdom (where leaders are committed) for yet another ‘routine medical checkup’ underscores the “insensitivity of the APC which by nature and outlook has never been ready for governance since inception.”

It said while other world leaders are solving problems in their countries, the President, who promised to fix the country’s refineries, abandoned Nigerians to the excruciating fuel crisis caused by APC leaders at the helm of affairs in the petroleum sector.