The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the vice-president is not prohibited from managing security issues under the 1999 constitution.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Kashim Shettima recently stated at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) convention in Lagos that if his party wins, he will focus on security while Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, will focus on the economy.
In response to Shettima’s remark, Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State and vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that it would be “absurd” for a vice-president to be in charge of the country’s security.
Okowa asserted that as commander-in-chief and chair of the security council, the president is in charge of things relating to security.
Also Read: Okowa To Shettima: It Would Be Absurd For VP To Take Charge Of Security
In response, Keyamo, who is also the Spokesman for APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council disagreed in a tweet on Wednesday, saying it would not be ludicrous for a vice-president to manage security problems because the president can delegate any responsibility to his deputy.
“I respectfully disagree, your Excellency. Under the 1999 Constitution, the President may assign any responsibility within his purview to either his VP or Ministers,” Keyamo wrote.
“This may include some aspects of security issues too. That is why, for instance, you have a Minister of Defence.
“It is possible, your Excellency, that in the well-known forward-thinking nature of Bola Tinubu, possible assignment of some responsibilities in this regard have been discussed with his VP-to-be & H.E Shettima just can’t wait to hit the ground running. This is not absurd, sir.
“When H.E Shettima says ‘taking charge’, it’s in the context of discharging responsibilities assigned to him by Bola Tinubu.
“But he will report back to his boss just as your principal Atiku Abubakar was reporting to Obasanjo since he wasn’t in a position to make any final decision,” Keyamo explained.
Keyamo counters Okowa, says constitution doesn’t restrict VP from handling security issues
via: Information Nigeria
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