Nigerian senate backs ailing president's medical vacation

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had not violated any law by not returning from medical vacation after 90 days, the country's Senate said Tuesday.

Spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Abdullahi, who made this known in statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja, the country's capital said Buhari had complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that he must hand over to the Vice President and duly inform the two chambers of the legislature about his medical vacation.

Abdullahi was reacting to protests by a coalition of civil society organizations, demanding the resignation of the president over his long medical vacation in London.

He urged the protesters to stop heating up the polity, saying that it was creating unnecessary tension in the country.

The spokesperson said the protest was an attempt to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues, which were already being tackled.

"We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working," he added, noting that acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership.

"We in the Senate are happy about the report by the governors and party leaders, who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa," he added.

The president left Abuja, Nigeria's capital city for London on May 7 for follow-up on his medical checks.