Hoping to break the power vacuum and constitutional gridlock in the country, a new group of patriotic Nigerians will next week embark on major streets protests in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, London and New York to protest Umaru Yar’Adua’s refusal to hand power over to his deputy before he was evacuated abroad on medical grounds as determined by the constitution.

The "Save Nigeria Group," which was convened by the fiery Lagos Pastor, Tunde Bakare, said after a meeting in Lagos on the State of the Nation, called on Nigerians to join its membership and work to halt the nation's slide into the status of a "failed state and quasi-dictatorship."

It lamented what it termed “the dangerous slide of Nigeria into a failed state, worsened by the power vacuum and absence of C-IN-C in Nigeria for the past 45 days.”

Expressing outrage at the story making the rounds that Yar'Adua has spoken to some federal officials, the Save Nigeria Group called on him to address all Nigerians by radio or television, stressing that he is the leader of the entire country. It further demanded that Yar’Adua save Nigeria’s fledgling democracy, national security and his own health by deploying the provisions of Section 145 of the constitution.

It would be recalled that members of Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet, sensing the deteriorating public mood in the country, orchestrated an elaborate scheme where a voice purported to be Yar’Adua’s made telephone calls to the VP, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Abuja-based arrowhead of the kitchen cabinet, Yakubu Tanimu-Kurfi, Yar’adua’s Chief Economic Adviser, claimed that Yar’dua had spoken to the officials to report that he was “recovering” and headed home “soon”. The scheme confirms Saharareporters exclusive stories that Yar’Adua had not spoken to anyone in his cabinet since he departed Nigeria 45 days ago.

But holes in the conversation claims were quick to emerge. For instance, Tanimu claimed that Yar’Adua discussed with him an “anti-terrorism bill” pending before the National Assembly and asked that he convey his desires to have it pass them to the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa. But that was an obvious lie, because the AGF has always claimed that he speaks to the “president” frequently. Tanimu provided no explanation as to why Yar’Adua needed to send him to a man with whom he speaks frequently over something as critical as an “anti-terrorism bill,” if any.

But sources privy to the so-called Yar’Adua calls described the voice as hoarse and incoherent that if it really was Yar’Adua’s, the only inference is that he is in such a bad shape that he could only have been forced to participate in the phone conversations, and to keep them very short. The report from the Speaker, which was made available in James Ibori’s Daily Independent paper, confirmed that Yar’Adua only spoke for four minutes, but the VP’s call was said to have been even shorter. We could not confirm from David Mark if he actually received any call. Mark is yet to publicly speak about speaking to Yar’Adua.

The Save Nigeria Group also expressed worry today that as the nation approaches the 2011 elections, the genuine Electoral Reform promised by President Umaru Musa Yaradua at his inauguration is vanishing due to lack of political will and outright refusal to implement the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Bills.

Stop press: London protest . starts 12pm Tuesday 12th January 2010 Trafalgar square, move to parliament square- then ends at Nigerian High Commison , Nigeria House
9 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BX encouraged to come with Nigerian flag. Homemade banners, dress warm . contact 07984212553 or e mail info@nigerialibertyforum.org.uk London Metropolitan Police will provide security.
Key point for Protest, Where is Musa Yar'Adua
Nigerians are no terrorists
Stop the criminalisations of Nigerians,
Fight against corruption
and add as you may wish

http://saharareporters.com/sr-headlines/4770-power-vacuum-save-nigeria-group-plans-street-protests-at-home-and-abroad.html

Count me in!