Yar' Adua still Nigerian Leader - Acting President Jonathan
Last Updated: Monday, 8 March 2010, 11:13 GMT Previous Page


 

Nigerian Acting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the weekend re-affirmed the position of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, saying: "He is still the President of this country."

"There are clear constitutional provisions in place and as you are aware I am acting on behalf of the President".

According to a statement from the office of Former President Jerry John Rawlings, the Acting Nigerian President had met lead delegates of the ongoing United Cities for Local Government in Africa (UCLGA) Congress led by Former President Rawlings, who called on him.

Dr Jonathan praised former President Rawlings for the significant role he was playing in enhancing leadership on the continent and commiserated with him on the recent loss of his official residence through fire.

Former President Rawlings had earlier shared his sympathies on the health situation of President Yar'Adua and called on the Nigerian political leadership to ensure that the situation with the presidency was managed "with care".

"I know there is a lot of political discussion going on and I am sure Nigeria will handle the situation well,' he told Dr. Jonathan.

Dr. Jonathan assured Rawlings "that the situation was under control".

The meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere and attended by Nigerian Minister for Interior and Local Government, saw former President Rawlings telling the acting Nigerian President to do everything in his power to clear the terrible image shown on international TV recently of a defenceless Nigerian disable being shot to death.

Acting President Jonathan said that the report had been published out of context, creating the impression that the disable had been murdered during the recent Muslim-Christian clashes in Nigeria.

He said the incident happened well before the religious clashes and was committed by a member of the Boko Haram Islamist fundamentalist sect.

Dr. Jonathan said that the Nigerian security agencies were investigating the matter and had already made some arrests.

He congratulated Ghana on the occasion of her 53rd Independence celebrations and thanked former President Rawlings for finding time to grace the UCLGA Congress.

Dr. Jonathan said he was happy the UCLGA was working hard to consolidate local governance on the continent, as governance at the grassroots level was the best way of ensuring national development.

Earlier, former President Rawlings delivered a thought provoking address on unity, emphasizing that until the sanctity of justice is restored in Africa's political fabric unity would continue to remain a mirage.

He enjoined all Africans to be courageous and speak against injustices in society.


http://news.myjoyonline.com/international/201003/43134.asp

How do you act on behalf of the dead.
Yar'Adua is acting dead.

Put a + about the guy is that he doesn't seem power hungry which is something we haven't seen in Nigeria.

jumobi1:

Put a + about the guy is that he doesn't seem power hungry which is something we haven't seen in Nigeria.

Yes, but when will he stamp his authority in the intetim and a sack all those selfish corrupt ministers ?

jumobi1:

Put a + about the guy is that he doesn't seem power hungry which is something we haven't seen in Nigeria.

That is not a positive behaviour. Nobody is asking him to be power drunk.

But leadership should be for people who want to lead, otherwise Jonathan is simply in wrong job. If its the case that he does not want to lead, he should quit. otherwise he will simply be constituting himself as an obstacle to democratic progress if he refuses to lead and yet refuses to quit.

Jonathan only stated d obvious Yaradua is stil d president of d country and he is only actin on his behalf, because u want to be a leader or lead by force does not mean you hav to take us thru a war like some self servin leaders wld hav prefered. I stil stand by my opinion dat Nigeria wld b beta off if we cld giv Yaradua a 2nd term nd let Jonathan lead as d Ag President instead of an IBB