From the outset, President Umoru Musa Yar’’ Adua came across as a humble personality. This attribute contrasts sharply with that of his predecessor former President Oulusegun Obasanjo. It takes a modest mind to admit publicly that the presidential poll that produced him was flawed.

This, President Yar’’ Adua did following strident public outcry that trailed the 2007 controversial elections. Obasanjo would probably have insisted the exercise was fee and fair. He would also have predictedly called the bluff of his opponents that called for elections cancellations. Yar’’ Adua did none of that. Rather, he promised the nation electoral reforms that would guarantee free and fair elections in future. He subsequently set-up Justice Muhammadu Uwais Committee on electoral reforms.

The Uwais panel had since submitted its report and federal government had issued a white paper on the recommendations. For the process to be completed, the constitution has to be amended. However, those at the fore front of electoral reforms want a comprehensive reforms as contained in Uwais’’ report, but Yar’’ Adua’’s administration seems to be adverse to that.

At the inception of his government, President Yar’’ Adua mouthed the rule of law mantra which was virtually cast to the winds during Obasanjo’’s regime. He said his administration would operate on the principle of rule of law an not trample on it with impunity. On this promise, President Yar’’ Adua started well and indeed earned a measure of commendations. But the ovation soon died down. That the president would leave the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for an indefinite period without regard to constitutional provision flies in the face of his administration commitment to rule of law.

Unlike past Nigeria leaders, Yar’’ Adua scored another first as the only one to have publicly declared his assets. Following his example, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan did same.
For the duo, it was a display of leadership by example and a public presidential stance against corruption.

Another outstanding thing President Yar’’ Adua would be remembered for is the handling of many years of youth restiveness in Niger-Delta. Again, in a marked departure from the path of his predecessor, Yar’’ Adua elected to engage militants agitating in the oil-rich region. Employing constructive dialogue, the President succeeded in making the militants surrender their arms in return for amnesty. One of their leaders, Henry Okah, who was being tried for treason was also released unconditionally. By this action, Yar’’ Adua taught the world a lesson in conflict resolution.
No doubt, a major event that will linger in the minds of all is that he set the record of being the first president to leave the country for undeterminable period of time without handling over to his deputy as required by the constitution. It is an unpresidential action that overheated the polity almost beyond boiling point.


7[b]-Point Agenda ---Rule of law[/b]

Strict adherence to the time honoured rule of law principle was one of the tenets of democracy President Umuru Musa Yar’’ Adua promised to uphold immediately after he was sworn in 2007. When he said this, the president was conscious of general mood across the nation. At the time he assumed office, the nation was still smarting from the serial disregard for the rule of law under the ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. In demonstration of his seriousness, the president made it one fo the candid points of his Seven-Point Agenda.

There were some flashes of an administration that meant business. The first was the release of Lagos State local government fund which ex-president Obasanjo withheld because the former state governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Created 57 Local Government Areas. The State Government Later changed them to Local Council Development Areas LCDA after the supreme court delivered judgement on the issue. When President Yar’’ Adua released the fund to Governor Babatunde Fashola, he was roundly praised by all.

Also, when the apex court declared Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the duly elected governor of Rivers State, Yar’’ Adua ordered that he should be sworn in immediately. Under Obasanjo, when the same court reinstated former governor Rashidi Ladoja after pronouncing his purported impeachment illegal, rather than obey the court order, the then Attorney-General of the federation had unwillingly effected the judgment after claiming that the federal government was still studying the court decision.
That is the difference between Obasanjo and Yar’’ Adua government on rule of law. However, the question may be asked, was Yar’’ Adua committed to the rule of law?
His ailment that took him out of the country for a long period of time without him handing over to the Vice President probably answers the question in the negative. In the eyes of the law, President Yar’’ Adua violated Section 145 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in which says ““Whenever the President trasmits to the President of Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge te functions of his office, until he transmit to the a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.””
So where lies the much vaunted rule of law mentioned mantra?