A few weeks back the local media, (traditional and social) expressed concerns over the exclusion of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, from two crucial meetings between the Executive and Security chiefs.
At this particular time and really within this present spatial entity called Nigeria, Security ranks high in the consciousness of all Nigerians . So many were surprised that these meetings coming very early in the life of this administration excluded the Vice President, and indeed this prompted me in my blog titled "Pitting the VP against the President" to query the position of the constitution of the rights of the Vice President, and to call for the present senate to clarify the responsibilities and rights of the Vice President.
As a close observer of the democratic play field in Nigeria, my attention was drawn a couple of days ago to a blog http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/185279-investigation-vp-osinbajo-was-never-excluded-from-national-security-meetings.html where spokesman for the government, Garba Shehu, pointed out segments of the constitution that clearly states that the Vice President is one of the statutory members of the Security council. The following sections of the constitution (Schedule 3 Part 1) are proof that indeed Nigeria's constitution may not be so incomplete after all, rather it is how government chooses to follow the constitution that may really be the problem .
In defence of government, the spokesman, then goes on to suggest that the Vice President could not attend those two meetings because he had some pressing engagement outside the country in which he was delegated to represent President Buhari. Twice.
While one must admit that, especially on issues of National Security, the buck stops with the President, one cannot help but struggle to rationalize the value of sending the Vice President twice, on errands while the Security of a Nation of One Hundred and Eighty Million peoples is being handled by a handful people without the benefit of representation by the ALL the statutory members of the Security council.
The security threat of Boko Haram is not a Northern problem, it is a Nigerian Problem. It is not simply a military problem, it is a social problem as well, and all forms of media, and media agencies have consistently kept on their toes to decry this threat. This administration must not short-change Nigerians by hook , crook or strategy. We desperately desire that this administration, should strive to uphold all the provisions of the constitution, especially as regards Security. There need be no politics in this.
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