Laolu Akande, former media aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has described the power gap between Nigeria’s President and Vice President as enormous, saying the two offices do not enjoy equal authority under the country’s presidential system.
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Akande said the President exercises far greater constitutional powers than the Vice President, who largely serves in an advisory capacity and can only make recommendations on matters of governance.
He made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he reflected on his experience working in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari alongside Osinbajo.
According to Akande, many Nigerians fail to understand the limitations of the Vice President’s office and often expect the occupant to influence or override presidential decisions, despite having no constitutional authority to do so.
“The difference between the President and the Vice is light and darkness. The President has the power, the Vice does not,” he said.
Drawing from his experience in the Buhari administration, Akande explained that although Osinbajo frequently presented ideas and recommendations on different issues, the former President was not obligated to adopt them.
He argued that the arrangement was not necessarily a reflection of personal disagreements between the two leaders but a consequence of the constitutional structure, which vests executive authority primarily in the President.
Akande also defended Osinbajo against criticisms he faced during Buhari’s administration, saying many Nigerians misunderstood the limitations of his position and blamed him for decisions over which he had little or no control.
The former presidential spokesman noted that a similar relationship exists between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, stressing that while Shettima can offer advice and suggestions, the final decision rests with Tinubu.
His comments have renewed attention on the relationship between Nigeria’s President and Vice President, particularly the extent of the latter’s influence in policy decisions and the administration of government.
Akande urged Nigerians to understand the constitutional distinction between the two offices rather than hold Vice Presidents responsible for decisions ultimately made by the President.