US, UK react to Buhari's medical leave, speak about Osinbajo as acting president
- The US and UK expressed confidence in the Buhari administration
- They also gave their support to Professor Osinbajo in his role as acting president
- The US described Nigeria as its biggest partner in Africa
The United States and the United Kingdom have expressed confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and also Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s acting president role.
President Buhari travelled out of the country on medical leave on Sunday, May 7 with the vice president, Professor Osinbajo taking over the rein of government.
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There has been report that a cabal in the Buhari administration had hijacked power making it difficult for Osinbajo to function in his acting president capacity.
The Punch reports that the US and the UK however expressed support for the Buhari administration as well as expressing confidence in Osinbajo as acting president.
Russell Brooks who is the spokesperson of the US embassy in Nigeria said: “We are very much in favour of President (Muhammadu) Buhari’s campaign against corruption. We also believe that Acting President (Yemi) Osinbajo is strongly committed to this agenda and will continue to pursue it while President Buhari is out of the country.”
His UK counterpart, Joseph Abuku, said while it could not comment on the president’s health, it had full support for the administration.
“The Vice President is acting President in President (Muhammadu) Buhari’s absence. The United Kingdom has full confidence in both he (Osinbajo) and President Buhari. Questions on President Buhari’s health should be directed to his office.”
“Again, we wish President Buhari good health and a speedy return to his homeland.”
Just last week, the deputy director of the office of West African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs, Nathan Holt, spoke about the relationship between Nigeria and the US saying Nigeria was its biggest partner in Africa.
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He said: “Nigeria matters to us because it’s Africa’s most populous country, and depending on the price of oil, it’s either the biggest or the second biggest economy on the continent.
“With a current population of 182 million, Nigeria is projected to grow to over 400 million over the next few decades, which will leave it by the middle of this century as the fourth-largest country in the world.”