Buhari has abandoned his duties, PDP says

The Peoples Democratic Party has accused President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of abandoning his duties.

This is coming as the opposition observed the assumption of Presidential powers by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to announce an extension of lockdown in the country.

The party said the SGF had no right by law to broadcast Presidential executive orders or declare curfew and restriction of movements.

"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," the party said in a statement.

The PDP described Mustapha's act as the abdication of responsibilities by Buhari which has become the norm in the last five years and brought to the fore by reason of this COVID-19 fight.

It, therefore, called on the President to do the needful and address the country instead of raising confusion in the polity and arousing incompetence from the Presidency.

"Our party, therefore, invites Mr President to end the confusion in the polity, arising from the action of the SGF, by immediately addressing Nigerians in his official capacity to fulfil the demands of our laws in respect of the necessary protocols on restrictions and other management procedures in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in our country," it said.