Kachikwu to BBC: Buhari’s absence Immaterial as he works from London

Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, has claimed that affairs of the country have not necessarily been affected by Buhari’s stay in London.In his perception, Kachikwu said Buhari, though currently away for medical consultations, was still capable of issuing policies and approving projects from London.The minister stated this while granting an interview to BBC’s ”˜Hard Talk’.“Yes, he is in London. He is undergoing hospital treatment, (but) I don’t know the details of that and I obviously wouldn’t know.“But let me say this, he returned from his first trip to London, even though the doctors advised him to have some rest.“He’s back to London and has continued some levels of meetings, and also been able to play some roles.“He has a very efficient Vice-President who is sitting in for him in his absence. It really hasn’t made much of a difference.” “I don’t know. But let’s face it; who in the world goes around giving to everybody what their medical statuses are? Kachikwu said in response to the question on Buhari’s type of ailment.“The doctors have got to be able to release something official and he’s working through it. It has not become a major problem.”“We’ve heard rumours in Nigeria about sick presidents off and on, most of them sometimes not quite correct. Will he be able to lead Nigeria?“I think looking at the sort of conversations I had with him when he came back, he was strong enough to do his work, struggled a bit in terms of trying to fully recover.“Nobody plans on illness, it happens. He has an efficient number two man; the system works, that’s the whole essence of democracy.“He’s on top of his abilities to be able to issue policies and to be able to approve what he needs to be approved,” He further said.Asked to explain Nigeria’s possession of about 11 aircraft for ministerial use in spite the nation’s recession, Kachikwu said, “There isn’t any aircraft for ministerial use. Ministers don’t use (private) aircraft, we travel public.“There are some presidential jets, some of which have been put up for sale, although I don’t have the details.“But I think it is down from an initial of about 11 or 12 to something like about seven and only two or three are really in proper condition.“And I know he’s given some authorisation for some to be sold. So in terms of numerical accountability he has reduced that substantially. Ministers are tied to travelling business class by commercial airlines,” The minister explained.