There's nothing wrong for Abba Kyari taking documents to Buhari for assent, says Rep Alabi

President Muhammadu Buhari signing bill

Akin Alabi, House of Representatives member representing Egbeda/Ona federal constituency, says he did not see anything wrong for the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, taking documents to President Muhammadu Buhari for 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.



Recall that Kyari travelled all the way from Nigeria to London to present a bill to President Buhari for assent.

A development that sparked outrage across the country as many Nigerians were questioning the functions of the office of the Vice president if the president is not around.

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 if 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.”