If the dictators in Nigeria (pretending to be democrats) will not act in the interest of Nigerians , others outside Nigeria have no obligation to shun common sense, logic and progressive actions !!!!!Totally disgraceful and another indicator that Nigeria is indeed losing its international relevance. These self-serving hacks can hold Nigeria to ransom but ECOWAS seems ready to show Nigeria that West Africa will not be held to ransom because of the absence of one highly ineffective individual who did little good even when he was 'up and about' !!!



http://www.tribune.com.ng/21122009/news/news1.html

ECOWAS leaders to replace Yar’Adua as chairman - ‘His tenure, the worst ever’ - Presidency confused over supplementary budget
From Taiwo Adisa and Christian Okeke - 21.12.2009

THE failure of President Umaru Yar’Adua to return to the country, 28 days after he left for a medical treatment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has taken its negative toll on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government Summit which was scheduled to be held today (Monday).

President Yar’Adua was elected chairman of the organisation in Abuja on December 19, 2008 for a period of one year after President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso served out the final leg of his third non-consecutive tenure which lasted from 2006 to 2008. His first tenure was in 1990. [b]

Before the unavoidable shift of the date for the summit to January 18, 2010, the heads of state were expected to consider the performance of West Africa’s economy and the 2009 work programme of the institution, which is articulated around five priority areas of activity and expected to be presented to them by the President of the Commission, Dr. Chambas, as part of the 2009 annual report.

The priority areas are the completion of work on the creation of a customs union, negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA), the development of agricultural and environmental policies as well as the state of peace and security in the region.

Apart from those areas, the summit was also to consider the Council of Ministers’ report which, among other things, includes recommendations on various sectoral programmes from such meetings as the ECOWAS Ministers of Health, Culture, Justice as well as Telecommunications and ICT.

It would have also considered the guidelines for the preparation of report on the ECOWAS multilateral surveillance mechanism. The ministers had ended their meeting in Abuja on Saturday, November 21, in preparation for presentation of the report to the heads of state.

The regional leaders were expected at the botched summit to sign some supplementary acts and decisions, including such areas as telecommunications and information, communication and technology (ICT) as well as the establishment of a regional copyright observatory.

A major event at the summit, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, would have been the replacement of President Yar’Adua who emerged the sixth Nigerian leader to chair the organisation in 2008 after Olusegun Obasanjo (1978), Muhammadu Buhari (1985), Ibrahim Babangida (1986 - 1988), Sani Abacha (1996 - 1998) and Abdulsalam Abubakar (1998 - 1999).

Indications emerged that the regional leaders will, in January, not give in to any move to re-elect President Yar’Adua for a fresh mandate under any guise, owing to what sources mainly termed his “leadership without direction.”[/b]

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the tenure of President Yar’Adua was one of the worst to be experienced by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Commission, which was set up by Article 7, 8 and 9 of the Treaty and which defined its composition and functions.

Meanwhile, the presidency is said to be confused on what to do to stop the N353 billion 2009 supplementary budget from lapsing as a result of the failure of President Yar’Adua to assent to the budget bill.

The 1999 Constitution stipulates that the President can only hold on to a bill passed by the National assembly for 30 days after which the lawmakers can override the veto by securing two-thirds majority of the two chambers.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that the presidency had toyed with the idea of taking the bill to Saudi Arabia to secure presidential assent but that members of the kitchen cabinet advised against that bid after securing vital information on the true state of health of the president.

Again, sources said that the Presidency had contemplated sending a letter from Yar’Adua to the National Assembly, to pave the way for Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the bill but that other members of the cabinet decided against it with the hope that the President would have returned to the country last week.

But it was confirmed that the Presidency is also suffering from the effects of non signing of the budget as the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta has become the first casualty.

While the House of Representatives passed the supplementary budget on November 18, 2009, the Senate passed it on November 23.

But it was gathered that the clean copy of the bill actually got to the President’s table on Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

Going by the legislative procedure, the bill could be deemed to have spent its 30th day in the presidency on December 23, thus paving the way for the National Assembly to override the presidential veto.

Sources, however, said that some presidential aides were planning to send an emissary to the National Assembly to calculate the days from December 8, when the National Assembly’s bureaucracy actually presented the budget to Aso Rock.

Senators and members of the House of Representatives as well as officials of ministries and parastatal agencies have been lamenting the inability of the system to effect some payments as a result of the failure of the president to sign the budget.

The House of Representatives had said on Friday that it was aware of what to do to get the budget to become law.

Senate spokesman, Mr. Ayogu Eze, also said on Sunday that the Senate, which began its on recess on Thursday, was actually on standby.

“We are on standby. We are strictly not on holiday, if we are called we will come back,” Senator Ayogu Eze said.

A source in the National Assembly said that the presidency might actualise the delivery of the letter that would ensure that vice-president Goodluck Jonathan takes over in acting capacity to the National Assembly this week.

The source said that though the letter had not been sent as at Sunday, top members of the legislature were aware of the possibility that this might happen this week.

If the letter is sent, the vice president would be able to assent to the budget and other pending issues, including the swearing- in of the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Nobody has the rigth to replace anybody, Ecowas does not have the right to replace the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Anybody who's carring that rumour about most be idiot.
Man your topic is baseless that's why nobaby is replying your topic.
Please next time search for better, relevant and more interesting topic to post.
Have you heard of the word sovereignity or a sovereign state, i know you would have heard of such words.
Piss Offfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

Isa4ril:

Nobody has the rigth to replace anybody, Ecowas does not have the right to replace the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Anybody who's carring that rumour about most be slowpoke.
Man your topic is baseless that's why nobaby is replying your topic.
Please next time search for better, relevant and more interesting topic to post.
Have you heard of the word sovereignity or a sovereign state, i know you would have heard of such words.
Piss Offfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff. 

Its obvious you didn't read through the post.

The are not removing him as president of Nigeria but as Ecowas Chairman, his tenor expires this month and they have no plan to re elect him, which they might have done assuming he is ok.

Isa4ril:

Nobody has the rigth to replace anybody, Ecowas does not have the right to replace the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Anybody who's carring that rumour about most be slowpoke.
Man your topic is baseless that's why nobaby is replying your topic.
Please next time search for better, relevant and more interesting topic to post.
Have you heard of the word sovereignity or a sovereign state, i know you would have heard of such words.
Piss Offfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

i think you need read the article again with understanding.
It is jst a pity that people who values something right are dumping the sick man and moving on. Sadly, Nigerians love to be stagnant and they are allergic to fowardness. So we will live and die with our sick president.

Isa4ril:

Nobody has the rigth to replace anybody, Ecowas does not have the right to replace the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Anybody who's carring that rumour about most be slowpoke.
Man your topic is baseless that's why nobaby is replying your topic.
Please next time search for better, relevant and more interesting topic to post.
Have you heard of the word sovereignity or a sovereign state, i know you would have heard of such words.
Piss Offfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

this is why it is always good to READ AND UNDERSTAND something b4 making assumptions.

Isa4ril:

Nobody has the rigth to replace anybody, Ecowas does not have the right to replace the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Anybody who's carring that rumour about most be slowpoke.
Man your topic is baseless that's why nobaby is replying your topic.
Please next time search for better, relevant and more interesting topic to post.
Have you heard of the word sovereignity or a sovereign state, i know you would have heard of such words.
Piss Offfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

As others have adviced, read the article properly before you respond. It is you that now looks foolish and uncouth because it is obvious you are in haste to attack others.  Also , I think you should understand that some of us post to inform of occurences and not to recieve replies . Nigerians should be aware, if the report is accurate , that their President is about to be removed as ECOWAS Chairman because "the tenure of President Yar’Adua was one of the worst to be experienced by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Commission" .

Several of our Presidents/heads of State , to include IBB (85 to 89) , have completed lengthy tenures as ECOWAS chairman. That ECOWAS want to vote Yardy out because he is incompetent is something Tthat should worry Nigerians immensely- especially Madam Rebrand. Yar Adua's removal will further give credibility to the notion that Nigeria is rudderless. If , for example, the NASS had done the right thing ECOWAS will not now be in the position of having to push Yardy out. The NASS stance also justifies Hilary Clintons assertion that our leaders are able , but unwilling, to make life better for Nigerians.

Gbawe:

As others have adviced, read the article properly before you respond. It is you that now looks foolish and uncouth because it is obvious you are in haste to attack others. Also , I think you should understand that some of us post to inform of occurences and not to recieve replies . Nigerians should be aware, if the report is accurate , that their President is about to be removed as ECOWAS Chairman because "the tenure of President Yar’Adua was one of the worst to be experienced by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Commission" .

Several of our Presidents/heads of State , to include IBB (85 to 89) , have completed lengthy tenures as ECOWAS chairman. That ECOWAS want to vote Yardy out because he is incompetent is something Tthat should worry Nigerians immensely- especially Madam Rebrand. Yar Adua's removal will further give credibility to the notion that Nigeria is rudderless. If , for example, the NASS had done the right thing ECOWAS will not now be in the position of having to push Yardy out. The NASS stance also justifies Hilary Clintons assertion that our leaders are able , but unwilling, to make life better for Nigerians.

true that.

If true, then I say FINALLY. I wonder when we plan to do anything about him.

@ isa4ril. Chai. . . .even if dey want 2 remove d man u can at least pray they succeed or haven't u had enuf of umaru?

Kobojunkie:

If true, then I say FINALLY. I wonder when we plan to do anything about him.

It is likely to be true because , unlike self-serving Nigerian political leaders , other West African leaders derive no benefit from a sick and distracted Yar Adua. ECOWAS is not about one Country and it is certainly not about one man. David Mark and the rest of our selected leaders will do their best to keep Yardy in power because the president's distractions , due to illness , provide an enviroment within which anyone can steal with impunity. The considerations are not the same when it comes to affairs of ECOWAS. Many member states will simply want a competent Chairman who can attend to important issues affecting the region. Anyone can fall ill but member states of ECOWAS , unlike our selfish leaders, wll realise that important leaders should not have serious chronic illness that affects their effectiveness.

slap1:

@ isa4ril. Chai. . . .even if dey want 2 remove d man u can at least pray they succeed or haven't u had enuf of umaru?

But there removing him does not remove him from the post of president of Nigeria. I mean that is still left to us. All these countries are doing is simply guarding their own interest.

Gbawe:

It is likely to be true because , unlike self-serving Nigerian political leaders , other West African leaders derive no benefit from a sick and distracted Yar Adua. ECOWAS is not about one Country and it is certainly not about one man. David Mark and the rest of our selected leaders will do their best to keep Yardy in power because the president's distractions , due to illness , provide an enviroment within which anyone can steal with impunity. The considerations are not the same when it comes to affairs of ECOWAS. Many member states will simply want a competent Chairman who can attend to important issues affecting the region. Anyone can fall ill but member states of ECOWAS , unlike our selfish leaders, wll realise that important leaders should not have serious chronic illness that affects their effectiveness.

The boldened would then imply that Yaradua is able to prevent stealing if he is present? ECOWAS also bungled it when they made Yardua their leader knowing how clueless he is. Perhaps they wanted clueless yardy to solve their problems using naija's money ala big brother Africa

mekusxxx:

The boldened would then imply that Yaradua is able to prevent stealing if he is present? ECOWAS also bungled it when they made Yardua their leader knowing how clueless he is. Perhaps they wanted clueless yardy to solve their problems using naija's money ala big brother Africa

You have a point. He did not prevent stealing even when he was 'present' but we are still on the same page because being 'present' simply means he is in Nigeria. This man has been distracted with his serious illness , to the detriment of Nigeria, for probably his entire Presidency . The thieves have had it good so far under UMY. They would like the status quo to continue. That is my point. Other West African leaders , on the other hand, will have no qualms removing Yar Adua from a job they feel he cannot do well due to ill health. As per the appointment of Yar Adua as ECOWAS chairman could it be that , as usual , the Nigerian federal Government indicated that our President is "hale and hearty" plus ready to give any 'doubting Thomas' a game of squash?