Buhari jam wetin pass im power — Sani mocks

It was expected, but caught many by surprise nonetheless, as Nigerians seemingly begin to get used to the covid-19 lockdown which was enforced by the Nigerian Government since March.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari will hold a national broadcast on Monday 17th, to address the nation on the administration's progress in the fight against covid-19, and the next line of action which could see a further easing of the two months lockdown put in place since March.


However, as Nigerians wait and hope for positive news from the President, the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, announced via Twitter that no broadcast was planned, but that the SGF himself who also Chairs the Covid-19 Taskforce, will address Nigerians on behalf of the president during the tasksforce's daily briefings.

No presidential broadcast on COVID-19 updates today. None was planned. Rather, the Presidential Task Force will during its usual media briefings bring the nation up to speed on the next steps.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) May 18, 2020

This sudden change, triggered reactions and condemnations from the PDP who accused the President of running the country through proxy.

The part in a statement said, "The action of the SGF has brought serious confusion in the polity regarding the legality or otherwise of the directives contained in the SGF's announcement.


"Such powers are vested in the person and office of Mr. President and not exercisable by proxy, directly or indirectly; which makes the action of the SGF a recipe for serious constitutional crisis in our country.

"Our nation is a state governed by dictates of the law, particularly in the exercise of powers vested in statutory offices, especially that of the President.



"The PDP holds that the announcement by the SGF is, therefore, another manifestation of abuse of our statutory offices arising from the abdication of responsibilities by President Buhari since the last five years, which had also become more pronounced in this fight against COVID-19."

But Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, sees things a bit differently. The Senator said Buhari actually had planned to talk to Nigerians, but appeared incapable of withstanding the outrage his announcement would cause.

Baba wanted to come out and talk to you,he peeped through the Window,instead of each of you holding a notebook and a pen,you were holding stones;and he just went back to Za living room.Return your stones from where you picked them.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) May 18, 2020

He said, "Baba wanted to come out and talk to you,he peeped through the Window,instead of each of you holding a notebook and a pen,you were holding stones;and he just went back to Za living room.Return your stones from where you picked them."



The SGF announced a two week extension of the lockdown until June 1, after which the next phase of easing the lockdown would be revealed.