In this harsh economic climate, Nigeria has reportedly lost about $250,000 due to the last minute cancellation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s proposed trip to India because of the incompetence of the Protocol Department of the Presidency.
Osinbajo had to cancel his trip to India, because the President, Muhammadu Buhari would also jet out of the country to Equatorial Guinea on a state visit, at the same time.
According to reports, a team consisting of 27 members including Osinbajo and two other ministers were supposed to travel on Sunday, March 13 to India and return on Wednesday, March 16.
With the president billed to travel on Monday, March 14, if Osinbajo had not canceled his trip, by law Senate President Bukola Saraki would have to fill the presidential seat for a few days.
It however appears that the Presidency is not comfortable with the constitution-backed scenario.
According to Sahara Reporters, a source in the Presidency revealed that “when the President and VP are out of town, the running of the country will fall automatically into the hands of the Senate President.”
He added: “We did not want the awkwardness that would come with that scenario.”
Osinbajo had allegedly sent his advance party to India, booked hotels and made required plans for transportation which cost around $250,000 for the trip before it was canceled.
The clash of the president and the vice-president’s travel schedule exposes the incompetence of the presidential protocol team which is headed by Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, the State Chief of Protocol.
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