Ime Akpan
The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has expressed appreciation to the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki for orderly conduct while acting as president between 12.01am of May 29 to 10am when he (Osinbajo) and President Muhammadu Buhari were sworn in for another four-year term.
Osinbajo who stated this in his remarks at the inauguration dinner held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja on Wednesday explained Buhari’s first term mandate had expired at one minute past midnight of May 29.
Consequently, he said there was neither a president nor a vice president.
When such a situation arises, he said it is the senate president who acts at the president.
“At one minute past midnight today (Wednesday, May 29), the four-year term of Mr. President and I ended by effluxion of time. So, from one minute past 12 of last night, May 29 to about 10:30 am when we were sworn in for a second term there was no president or vice president.
Interestingly nothing went wrong, all was okay. When such a situation arises it is the senate president who acts as president. So, when I arrived at Eagle Square this morning (Wednesday) some may have noticed that the senate president and I were enjoying a joke. He said to me jokingly ‘you better be careful you know I am the acting president now.’ So, we thank Mr. Senate President for not doing anything funny,” he said.
Thereafter, Osinbajo expressed appreciation to the dinners saying their attendance “is proof of your friendship but more importantly your belief in the democratic process and your support for the outcome of this process: the decisive victory of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)…at the presidential polls”
He also appreciated Nigerians for re-electing Buhari for another term and promised that the government will not betray the people’s trust.
“On February 23rd the Nigerian people freely made a choice to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office. It was that choice that we celebrated with pomp and pageantry this morning (Wednesday).
We are grateful to the almighty God for His grace by which this was possible and the Nigerian people for trusting us yet again; that trust will not be betrayed.
And so on behalf of Mr. President, please accept our deepest gratitude for your support and presence here this evening. The best years of Nigeria begin today, and by the Grace of God all of us will live to enjoy the coming years and many more,” he added.
