[size=14pt]Yar’Adua: US sanction divides presidency on power transfer to Jonathan[/size]
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 01:38 Pius Mordi & Max Amuchie

•Moderates emboldened, deepen consultation on filling power vacuum •Maduekwe summons Sanders, seeks review of decision

For moderates in the presidency who hold the view that power ought to have been temporarily handed over to Vice resident Good luck Jonathan, the US classification of Nigeria alongside Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran as terrorist countries has turned out to be a shot in the arm as they are now emboldened to up the ante in their bid to end the power vacuum in the presidency. This comes as the executive council of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) meets with all governors elected on the party’s platform today. Also, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) holds its weekly meeting today. And on Tuesday, the Federal Government summoned Robin Renee Sanders, US ambassador to Nigeria, to urge a reconsideration of the decision to require tighter security for Nigerian air travellers in the wake of the botched bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner.

Ojo Maduekwe
Ojo Maduekwe, foreign affairs minister, in a meeting with Sanders, said “I used diplomatic means to convey our message that listing Nigeria as a high risk on the radar of security measure to US is an unacceptable New Year gift to a friendly nation; we do not accept it because Nigeria is not listed as a training ground nor the country accused as sponsoring terrorism.” Although BusinessDay could not get any PDP official to confirm the agenda of the meeting, sources within the hierarchy said the US move On the other hand, the hawks which have Michael Aondoakaa, attorney general of the federation, as their spearhead have also been forced to rethink their strategy in staving off the emergence of Jonathan as acting president. BusinessDay gathered that the moderates are now more vigorous in seeking options towards checkmating the hawks by reaching out to prominent members of the National Assembly, including its leadership. It is generally acknowledged within the two groups that the American action was largely due to failed leadership accentuated by Yar’Adua’s November 23, 2009 medical trip to Saudi Arabia without handing over power albeit temporarily to Vice President Jonathan. A source close to the seat of power said the hawks seem to still have upper hand. “We learnt Yar’Adua is recovering and will return but that is what we have been told several times,” said a source close to the PDP top hierarchy. The national executive of the PDP is meeting with PDP governors tomorrow (today). The meeting could not hold earlier because of the burial of former First Lady, Maryam Babangida. Many governors and PDP big wigs are expected to attend. Another source said the moderates, that is those who want power transferred are in majority but they have not been able to assert their position.

“Everybody is concerned about Yar’Adua’s continued absence. Privately they express their worries but are circumspect about speaking openly. The PDP does not tolerate dissenting views and the Atiku experience is still fresh in every politician’s mind. The lesson is that no one dares challenge a sitting president. “That may be the reason why Vice President Jonathan has been lying low. He has largely comported himself with maturity, dignity and decency. Although the FEC meets tomorrow (Wednesday) for the first time after the Christmas break, no one expects a fundamental shift in position from what they have always told us,” the source stated. When BusinessDay asked Vincent Ogbulafor, PDP national chairman, if the US sanction on Nigeria will make Yar’Adua transfer power to Jonathan temporarily pending his full recovery, he said he had “no idea.” Prodded further, he said “I don’t talk to press men on the phone.” BusinessDay sought to know from Ayogu Eze, Senate committee chairman on information if the US sanction could make the upper legislative chamber ask the FEC to raise a medical team to inquire into the president’s fitness to continue in office as enshrined in the constitution, he said the constitution does not require the Senate to mandate FEC to do so. In effect, only FEC can initiate it whenever it deems fit. Effort made to reach Segun Adeniyi failed as he did not pick his phone when BusinessDay called repeatedly.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7339:yaradua-us-sanction-divides-presidency-on-power-transfer-to-jonathan-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

hmm, looks like they are beginning to panick. I wonder what they will do if they finally decide to let Goodluck Jonathan take over but the U.S. refuses to remove Nigeria of the terror list.

The US is acting in their best interest (which coincides neatly with ours), so that Nigeria does not become the next Somalia. What pains me most, is that there are many Nigerians who cannot fathom just how close we are to becoming the next Somalia; we could be there in 5 years.

Lets hope that this US pressure will bring a strong and constitutional resolution to the ugly matters in the presidency.
When Jonathan takes over, guess the first names of those to be booted out? I'll try;

[list]
[li]Michael Aondoakaa[/li]
[li]Rilwan Lukman[/li]
[li]David Mark[/li]
[li]Dimeji Bankole[/li]
[li]Every member of the FEC[/li]
[li]Every member of Yar Adua's kitchen cabinet[/li]
[/list]

The US is acting in their best interest (which coincides neatly with ours), so that Nigeria does not become the next Somalia. What pains me most, is that there are many Nigerians who cannot fathom just how close we are to becoming the next Somalia; we could be there in 5 years.

Lets hope that this US pressure will bring a strong and constitutional resolution to the ugly matters in the presidency.
When Jonathan takes over, guess the first names of those to be booted out? I'll try;

Michael Aondoakaa
Rilwan Lukman
David Mark
Dimeji Bankole
Every member of the FEC
Every member of Yar Adua's kitchen cabinet

u wish. . .u are just an ethnic jingoist beaf. . .this issue is not a somalia issue. .
this is a power struggle within the pdp. . .if they fail,they will be booted out of office in 2011

even if jonathan becomes president he can be booted out in the next election if he is not seen as being sincere to solve nigerias problem
what has mark and bankole got to do with this?
u forget they are all of the same ruling party

have u ever seen where members of the same ruling party be it in the uk or U.S actively work to oust their own party leader or president?
its not done,so u just misunderstand what is going on here

paddy_lo:

u wish. . .u are just an ethnic jingoist beaf. . .this issue is not a somalia issue. .
this is a power struggle within the pdp. . .if they fail,they will be booted out of office in 2011

even if jonathan becomes president he can be booted out in the next election if he is not seen as being sincere to solve nigerias problem
what has mark and bankole got to do with this?
u forget they are all of the same ruling party

have u ever seen where members of the same ruling party be it in the uk or U.S actively work to oust their own party leader or president?
its not done,so u just misunderstand what is going on here

"Ethnic jingoist". . . How? Do you really know the meaning of that phrase?

As for the rest, it all seems confused. But like I said, there are many Nigerians that are blind to where we are currently headed.

paddy_lo:

u wish. . .u are just an ethnic jingoist beaf. . .this issue is not a somalia issue. .
this is a power struggle within the pdp. . .if they fail,they will be booted out of office in 2011

even if jonathan becomes president he can be booted out in the next election if he is not seen as being sincere to solve nigerias problem
what has mark and bankole got to do with this?
u forget they are all of the same ruling party

have u ever seen where members of the same ruling party be it in the uk or U.S actively work to oust their own party leader or president?
its not done,so[b] u just misunderstand what is going on here[/b]

Nothing is misunderstood here - All that is going on is aligning one's pocket. None of their actions is for the interest of Nigeria. I would have wept if nothing was done by the US. Cos it will mean turning a blind eye. And we are even on the list of interest and they are shouting. If that bomb did explode.

The power struggle is within the pdp its self. Many southerners themselves dont want jonathan to act as president because if he does say goodbye to PDP and rotational presidency in the following elections.

which is ok with moi