Osinbajo as the acting President since Friday

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Vice President Osinbajo was far from the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday when he was expected to resume as the acting President due to 5-day leave embarked upon by President Mohammadu Buhari, as indicated in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

Osinbajo had left Abuja in the early hours of Friday for Lagos. Being a pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, he has continued attending the church’s monthly vigil tagged ‘Holy Ghost Night’ which holds every first Friday of the month inside the church’s facility, located on the popular Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, despite his status.

Ordinarily, Osinbajo normally travels to Lagos in the afternoon to enable him attend the programme which starts in the evening. But on this day, he left in the morning, apparently to attend to other engagements before the programme started in the evening. For instance, he attended the 13th Centre for Values in Leadership Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium in Lagos before the vigil.

The Presidential Villa was understandably deserted on Friday. Even at the Vice-President’s Wing, only a few aides who did not go with him to Lagos were in their offices. Immediately the news broke that the President had proceeded on leave, State House correspondents thought Osinbajo would cut short his trip to Lagos. They all gathered at his side of the Villa and waited. But when the waiting game extended into late in the evening, it became clear that the acting President would not return to the office on Friday.

Saturday’s experience was similar to that of Friday. There was no sign of presence of the Vice President when Punch correspondent visited the Vice-President’s Wing, except for a few security operatives who were on duty. Being a weekend, no senior officials —civil servants or political office holders—were seen on duty.

The situation was the same at Osinbajo’s official residence, Akinola Aguda House. No visible activity was observed there when Punch correspondent visited at about 4pm, except for a soldier who was seen inside the sentry box and three operatives of the Department of State Services who were also at the gate leading to the building.

At 4.30pm, when this report was filed, Osinbajo was still being expected in Abuja. His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, confirmed this to Punch correspondent on the telephone saying, “Yes, he travelled to Lagos and I can confirm to you that he is being expected back today (Saturday),”

It is expected that apart from a few meetings or consultations that may take place behind closed doors during the weekend, Osinbajo would resume work formally as the acting President on Monday.