The Federal Government on Tuesday clarified Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s comments in the United Kingdom over protocol abuse by Nigerian government officials.
Government also clarified the vice-president’s comment on why President Goodluck Jonathan preferred to be addressed as ‘Mr. President,’ the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
A statement in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Malam Umar Sani, said it became imperative to explain the statement, given the widespread misinterpretation given to it.
“Given the widespread misinterpretation and or misrepresentation of Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo‘s comments in the UK over the incessant abuse of protocol and why President Jonathan is addressed as Mr. President, it has become imperative to shed light on the matter,” it said.
The statement said Sambo, while responding to a question on the long list of protocol at functions, had said that President Goodluck Jonathan had decided that he be addressed as Mr President to reduce protocol.
“President Jonathan is and remains the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Section 130 (1) of the 1999 Constitution states that: There shall be for the Federation a President.
“(2) The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.
“The statement does not suggest that Mr President is no more the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but that he prefers to be addressed as Mr President to reduce the long list of protocol.” the statement said.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010273265046
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