₦airaland Forum

enohj2ee:
Enough of these lies, all this are lies ok


why will Andoaka be arrested and press wont be there?


stop telling us lies

@ enohj2ee

, read the story again THOMAS, the link also is there incase you had eye problem when reading it the first time

Controversial Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mr. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa has been sacked from office with immediate effect. Aondoakaa sacking is not unconnected with series of controversial stance in the wake of the political logjam in Nigeria over the health of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Also listed to be sacked are Minister for Agriculture, Sayaad Abba Ruma and Yar'Adua's Special Adviser on Economy, Tanimu Yakubu.

However, it is not immediately known as at press time if Aondokaa has been arrested, but sources hinted that the presidency may have also ordered the immediate arrest of the former AGF.


Details Coming,


Source: http://www.pointblanknews.com/os2866.html

, or why the attack? are you related with him?

Fhemmmy:
Could anyone please tell me what the arrest could be for?

@Fhemmmy

he is to account for the 2b prison decongestion money

Controversial Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mr. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa has been sacked from office with immediate effect. Aondoakaa sacking is not unconnected with series of controversial stance in the wake of the political logjam in Nigeria over the health of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Also listed to be sacked are Minister for Agriculture, Sayaad Abba Ruma and Yar'Adua's Special Adviser on Economy, Tanimu Yakubu.

However, it is not immediately known as at press time if Aondokaa has been arrested, but sources hinted that the presidency may have also ordered the immediate arrest of the former AGF.

Details Coming, 

Update:

Aondoakaa was earlier completely removed from office by "Acting President" Goodluck Jonathan; however, forces loyal to ailing president Yar'Adua mobilized against his removal and have possibilty caused the decision to be reversed leading to the move to have have remain in the cabinet in a minor role.

More information to follow, we will provide further reports as information becomes available to us.



Source: http://www.pointblanknews.com/os2866.html

Good New!!!!!, he should also be castrated to render him sexually incapacitated as we do not need more of his type (the Aondoakaa's) in this country

Following reports that the health of President Umaru Yar’Adua is worsening, his daughters and in-laws are said to have travelled to Jeddah in Saudi-Arabia to join Turai to monitor him closely.

Today is the 78th day since Yar’Adua travelled to Saudi Arabia to treat his failing health at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital.

Sources told P.M.NEWS this morning that the president’s daughters, Zainab, who is married to Governor Usman Dakingari of Kebbi State, and Najisat, who is married to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, have travelled to Jeddah along with the first family’s in-laws to join Turai Yar’Adua, who has been nursing the president at the hospital.

Our sources said the president’s health had taken a turn for the worse lately and this has caused panic among his family, with the in-laws also showing serious concern.

The President is said to be suffering from pericaditis, an inflammation of the heart, as well as kidney related ailments.

Yar’Adua has been battling with his health since he was governor of Katsina State between 1999 and 2007.

The president is said to have been placed on life support when his ailment worsened.

His absence for the past 78 days has caused constitutional crisis because he failed to transmit a letter to the National Assembly, informing the legislators that he was going on a medical trip and his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, should be sworn in as Acting President in accordance with the provision of Section 145 of the 1999 constitution.



SOURCE:http://thepmnews.com/2010/02/09/yar%e2%80%99adua%e2%80%99s-daughters-in-laws-gather-in-jeddah-as-his-health-worsens

Do you know why state governors are desperate to ensure that Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, is sworn-in as Acting President? They want Jonathan constitutionally empowered so that he can order the sharing of $6.5 billion excess crude oil revenue accruing to the states.

Source told P.M.NEWS this morning that the state governors, under the umbrella of Governors Forum, want the money shared as soon as possible and have been prevailing on Jonathan to do so.

However, Jonathan was said to have turned down their request, citing the fact that he was not constitutionally empowered to do so and as such, he did not want to go to prison for committing an illegal act.

Sensing that they may lose out if something was not done immediately, the governors were said to have mooted the idea of aligning with those who want Jonathan sworn-in as Acting President, so that in that capacity, he could direct that the excess crude windfall be shared to the states.

The governors’ trip to the National Assembly today to prevail on the lawmakers to endorse a resolution empowering Jonathan as Acting President was part of their ploy and not because they have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

Before today’s trip to Abuja, the governors were said to have met senators representing the Senatorial zones in their states and convinced them to speedily pass a resolution empowering Jonathan as acting President.

Our sources said the senators had bought the governors’ idea and that today’s meeting with the lawmakers was just a mere formality.

Another reason the governors want Jonathan sworn-in as Acting President is that they want him to sack Yar’Adua’s cabinet and appoint new ones, hand picked by the governors.

Our sources said when the governors sold this idea to the Vice President, he turned it down, saying that if at all he was going to carry out any cabinet shake up, only one or two ministers he inherited from Yar’Adua would be dropped.

Meanwhile, proceeds from Nigeria’s excess crude oil has sharply fallen, as the government dipped into the account to cope with the global financial crisis, an official said on Monday.

In the last three years, nearly 14 billion dollars (10.2 billion euros) have been taken from the account, which holds excess cash made from upward swings in world oil prices, said the office of Deputy Finance Minister, Remi Babalola.

When the present administration came into office in 2007, it “met over 20 billion dollars in the excess crude proceeds account, which has now declined to about 6.2 billion dollars due to its utilisation by all tiers of government as a result of the impact of the economic recession,” it said in a statement.

The minister, a senior accountant and ex-banker, has written more than a dozen papers on the impact of economic recession on Nigeria and the knock-on effects on Nigerians, the statement said.

Oil accounts for about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue and more than 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings.

SOURCE: http://thepmnews.com/2010/02/09/65b-windfall-why-governors-support-senate-2

You are correct, I am having this funny feelings about the whole episode, we should exercise caution while celebrating this whole drama, I suspect that its another script being played on Nigerians by PDP just to douse the tention and also to stop FEC from deliberating on Dora's memo and Yaradua from being impeached because 87 out of 104 senators where about commencing impeachment preceding, just to buy time and fool us again that's what I am suspecting.

I was so excited yesterday evening, but after listening to various interpretation from analyst all over the world, I think Nigerians such do a rethink as this is just another PDP script on Nigerians. Come to think of it, why did the Senate and Rep. have to wait for almost 80 days before making this declaration? why did they not wait for the ultimatum they gave the sick President to expire? the appropriate thing would have been to wait for him,then if he does not send the letter at the end of the period they give him another 7 days and after that commence impeachment preceding against him, also why the timing of their declaration? perhaps to prevent the FEC from looking into Dora's memo.

Please my fellow Nigerians, we should not just celebrate yet, this katsina Cabals can't just succumb so easily, we should read-in-between the lines in what ever action there are taking.

Walert:
This thread already exists.Open your eyes.

, and so what? of-course, my eyes where closed cause I just wake, and if I may ask, if repetition is bad, why did Radio Nigeria reapeat the broadcaste?

, jeezze after the Radio Nigeria presenter address him thus-

His Excellency!!!!!! the President and Commander In Chief Of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, ,, your excellency sir, !!!!!

My evening was made, I did not even care to listen to his speech. What other confirmation do we need? At last the masses are beginning to speak in Nigeria, first it was Anambra, , now its Nigeria. God thank you, oooooo.

My people, what did he say? cause I wasnt listening. Did he say he will handover Mike Kaase Aondoakaa to EFCC to account for the Prison Decongestion fund? If he did not remember, please lets start the compaign, if we collectively made it happened with  Anambra State election and Yaradua we can do it again.

I disagree,

1 castrate and jail aondoaka
2 rechuffle the present cabinet
3 set up a panel to find out the true state of yar ardua health
4 if they find out that he is actually incapacitated they should farward a resolution to that effect
5 and good luck takes over fully

Prof. Dora Akunyili, Minister of Information and Communications, has given the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, seven days to refute a libelous statement he allegedly made about her, or face prosecution.Aondoakaa is quoted as saying of Akunyili, who last Wednesday called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to reconsider its position on Umaru Yar'Adua's ability to continue in office, “Let her go confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC,” suggesting impropriety against his colleague. Aondoakaa is known to be one of those within the cabinet who feel the Vice-President should not serve as Acting President, the very issue that Mrs. Akunyili's memo to the FEC addresses.

In an interview published in yesterday's edition of The Nation newspaper, Aondoakaa described Akunyili as "self-seeking" and "trying to make herself an angel and a cheap hero".

Firing back, the Special Assistant to the Information Minister, Orji Ogbonaya Orji, said Mrs. Akunyili would not dignify such a statement with a response, noting that "no amount of intimidation" could change the Minister's faith in constitutionality regarding the need for Yar’Adua to transmit a letter to the National Assembly.

"We wish to caution that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones because when you point a finger at your perceived enemies, the other four are pointing at you," he said.

Following the publication of Mr. Aondoakaa's comments yesterday, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) , and the Centre for Civil Rights Research and Education (CCRRE), separately gave Aondoakaa seven days to substantiate his allegations against Mrs Akunyili, in the interest of the fight against corruption, or face prosecution.

The CNPP warned Aondoakaa that as the chief law officer of the federation, he should not use his position to protect Mrs. Akunyili, while the CCRRE suggested that Aondoakaa is simply part of a "campaign of calumny" against Mrs Akunyili.

In the CCRREE which was issued in Abuja by its Executive Director, Chijioke Kanu, he warned Aondoakaa: "Nigerians will definitely ask questions on the billions of Naira spent on the failed prison decongestion of the Ministry of Justice … and demand explanations to those blocking the prosecution of corrupt politicians."
Coming at the same time as today's developments at the National Assembly, and just hours before the next FEC meeting, observers say that meeting will be the most interesting FEC meeting in many years.

Source: http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5109-nafdac-corruption-allegations-akunyili-gives-agf-aondoakaa-seven-days-to-recant-or-face-lawsuit.html

In the first instance, he shelved a scheduled meeting of the Economic Management Team because some principal participants, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, were late.

The incident led to an unusual punctuality in attendance at the next day’s Federal Executive Council meeting as ministers rushed to avoid Jonathan’s wrath.

Afam:
Can someone that understands english language explain the reproduced content above to me?

I have been trying to read meaning into this without success.

I don't think the content makes any sense since the FEC meeting won't be happening unti tomorrow.

this happened I think last week or so, read the first paragraph above you will understand it more

please who are the "Submarine" brothers?. What really happened to them?

ANDOOKA, did I get it right? his days are numbered

proudly9ja:
How would we have been better off with OBJ thurd term? You allow a man to change the constitution for his selfish sake and you're saying we would have been better off? You should allow him to do third term and fourth term and infact stay there till he dies!

I prefer the Yaradua situation without even bothering to think about it. I prefer it because it is a learning process for us. So far, the constitution has been manipulated, misinterpreted, etc but it has NOT been overruled. As Nigerians we must learn not to run after short term solution to problems. It's like saying the military should come back. Democrasy for us is a learning curve and we must keep at it until we get it right. A child first learns to crawl and walk before he can start running.

@prodly9ja, I understand your point, neither do I like OBJ, but I will rather be rule by someone that at least is going somewhere than someone like Yar'adua that is not going right or left nor front or back. Since he came in the whole world have left us behind.
My Prayers:: "God you answered us during Abatcha's time, please answer again during Yar'adua Ammeeeeennnnnnn

chiozor:
Hate it; like it
OBJ was the best President Nigeria has ever head
2.He is well respected figure in Africa
3.will chose him for 4th tenure than snail race we are into
I can tolerate 4 years of negative action than 2 years of no actions, reason best known to me,

thank you my broda, even Christ said it , but Yaradua is neither hot nor cold I believe if it was 2000 years ago Christ would have spit him out of his mouth. Gooosh !!!!! how I detest that man, so duuuullllllll!!!

I will NOT but she's free to attend mine if she likes, so far its not for evil motive

redsun:
Yaradua is a no case,he is a dead man,it is people like obasanjo that is still holding the country to ransom at this point in time.Nigerian ruling elites is a criminal syndicate,nigerian constitution is noil and void.

you are correct, both administration are currupt, but OBJ is like the proverb at the beggining of the thread, I still believe that we would have been better of with a criminal like OBJ than dead-man Yar'adua

redsun:
U are in a very horrible state because u don't even know what your problems are.U are in a state of animation just like so many nigeria.Somebody that have the guts to commend a rogue and blood sucking obasanjo on nigerian forum must be literally sick in the head,

If nigeria wasn't a failed state,obasanjo by now without any reasonable doubt should be languishing in jaill for life or be executed for unpardonable treason.

Action man!!! stop all this noise, honestly we will all support you. d post was only about choosing either OBJ or Yaradua. By the way, why all this attack on OBJ? what about Yaradua? cause the thread was about the two administration. Also, where r you from?, if you are not a Nigerian and you are not ready to do a Jerry Rawlings for Nigeria ( Remember he is half British) leave us in peace,God will definately liberate Nigeria. That same God that remove Abacha will bring someone like Jerry Rawlings that will clean-up the system

redsun:
It is like choosing between the devil and deep blue sea.I can't believe any sane nigerian will ask a question like this,the old gays politicians like obasanjo deserve to be crushed like metals,recycled and put out of the way for rational brains and bloods to run the system.

Telephone proliferation of nigeria was long over due,it is thing of the time,not a government achievement,meanwhile,if not mistaking obasanjo was in charge at the time iraq invasion oil boom which means we should be talking of almost trillion of dollars in our reserve not mere billion that not even be real.

yeah choosing between the devil and d deep blue sea my foot, Mr Rational brian what r u waiting for? why not try and run d system? or are u not a Nigerian? If you are intelligent enough u shd stop making noise here action plsssss, do a Jerry Rawlings for nigeria,  stop blowing hot and cold here do something Mr (IN)SANE MAN

I was just thinking, maybe hell will come down, or what do you think?

Only God will save Nigeria.

Mr. David Edevbie, principal secretary of ailing Nigerian president has disappeared from his office in Aso Rock. He neither answers nor returns phone calls.

Nigerian blogger, HuhuOnline claimed friday morning that Edevbie may be hibernating in Dubai, a favourite destination of Nigeria’s ruling elite.

David Edevbie is believed to have left Nigeria over fears that the National Assembly may grill him over his role in the 2010 budget purportedly signed by President Yar‘adua.

He had claimed that President Yar’adua signed the 2009 supplementary appropriation bill passed by the National Assembly.

On 22 December, he claimed to have gotten instructions to come to Jeddah with the budget. On arrival, he was asked to handover the budget to a yet to be identified person, who had access to the president in the King Faisal Hospital.

The president reportedly signed the budget, but many Nigerians doubted whether the president actually signed. Many believed the president’s signature was forged.

When he returned to Nigeria, Edevbie refused to answer questions on the authenticity of the signature.

felele:
Even though I was aware that Obj did not really want a third term, and only allowed that kite to fly in order to stop Atiefku from winning the PDP Presidential nomination, I secretly hoped it would become a reality, because the northerners could not hide their eagerness to get their noses in the $54 billion trough that Obj had salted away for Nigeria, You could actually see them salivating hungrily, like wolves after a helpless sheep.

Well, we've now had 3 years of regression under them, plus the dubious honour of having been the first country in the world to have a comatose president in charge for over 70 days, $54 billion is now down to $12 billion - in 3 years!!!!

For me o, no doubt in my mind AT ALL, 3rd term for Obj, all day!!

you r totally correct. 3rd Term for OBJ all the way!!!!!

I saw it coming, Soludo should go to head bridge @ Onitsha and jump into the river, come to think of it, when did Soludo join PDP? I know its not up to 2 years and yet PDP constitution says  2 years before any candidate goes for elective position. How come he was PDP flag bearer? he wanted to reap where he did not sow? serves him right.

A house built on wrong foundation shall not stand.

chiozor:
will choose OBJ 4th tenure

ha, ha, ha, you r not serious. 3rd term is wht we r talking abt. i.e choosing that 3rd term over Yaradua's ill-fated tenure

chipmunkey:
No way, this is Nigeria and it belongs to us all and we practice democracy which is identical to America's system. _{So they say}, and in America's sytem there is no third term. I don't see any reason why ours should be the same. OBJ did not succeed and no one will ever succeed in doing that.

Guy you r getting it wrong, choose either Yaradua's governement or OBJ's 3rd term. An American president thats sick will never try what yaradua is doing, so either way we are not practising American system, both purely are Nigerian System ( d 3rd term aganda and refusal to transmit the letter to National Assembly)

Source: Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 02.08.2010
THISDAY




Some young members of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) are planning a showdown with other members of the cabinet in a bid to get a letter from President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to enable Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan act as the President.


THISDAY gathered that some of the younger elements in EXCOF are planning to support the position of Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who had last week asked that the President send in a vacation letter.


This coincides with a fresh demand by the Action Congress (AC) that EXCOF rescinds its decision that the ailing President is fit.
THISDAY also learnt that the planned trip of four members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Saudi Arabia to see the President has been put off at the last hour.


It was resolved at the last meeting of the committee that the National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Harilu Bello Mohammed, National Secretary, Alhaji Abubukar Kawu Baraje, and Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo, should travel to Saudi Arabia to see the President. No reason was given for the change of action for which flights tickets had already been bought.


In EXCOF, one of the young elements said: “This Wednesday is a decision and drama day for the members of the Federal Executive Council as the young professionals amongst the ministers are battle ready for the discussion on the President’s future.”


The Minister said they had tried to be “patient, understanding and stupidly loyal” by staying the course “based on the sensitivity and sensibility of the nation”.


However, the Minister said: “We have vowed that Wednesday (February 10) is the day to resolve or dissolve, as we will insist that power be handed over to the Vice-President to stem the tide of polarisation and drift in the country.


“We also have expressed full support for the memo by the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, as well as the call by the Nigeria Governors Forum that power of authority should be transferred to the Vice-President.”
Giving details for their change of mind, the minister said: “Our hard-earned reputation, character, ethical standing and moral uprightness are being questioned by this conspiracy of silence.”


Meanwhile, AC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed said: “Today, as always, we demand that the President should immediately transmit a letter to the National Assembly saying he is proceeding on a medical vacation, as the necessary pre-requisite for Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act as President. We demand that the Federal Executive Council should jettison their recent decision, not supported by the facts on the ground, that the President is not ‘incapable’ of performing the functions of his office.”

Do you remember that saying, the devil you know is better than the saint you do not know & the "Cow does, until its cut off"

If I could turn back the hands of time I will choose that OBJ's  third term agenda. Do not get me wrong, because I was angry and also opposed to the third term bid of OBJ, but events since the inception of the Yaradua government has prooved that OBJ's third term would have been better for Nigeria.

My reasons are his achievements:

OBJ cleared Nigeria external debts,  under Obasanjo the growth rate doubled to 6% until he left office, ,  Nigeria's foreign reserves rose from $2 billion in 1999 to $54 billion (& Yaradua have reduced it to about $12b now), under OBJ administration,

SME witness tremedious growth and OBJ made it very easy for the SMS's to get funds through bank loan which before then (just like now) was very difficult.

Look at the entertainment industry: Nigerian Musicians, comedian and actors are now hot cakes, thanks to OBJ, would you have ever imagine that D'banj will snub Dr. Alban? and what about R kelly and co, they are all fighting over themeselves when it has to do with Nigeria

what about GSM? I can't just imagine life now without it, before OBJ came to power  I remember having a telephone line was exclusively for the rich, but now even a barrow-pusher can afford a line.

Before OBJ tokunbo-cars was the order of the day even for the rich and corporate organisaions, OBJ change this, now even an average Nigerian now ride on brand new cars,

what about the reformation in the pay package of Civil Service? Unlike before if there is a vacancy now in Civil Service, ? the list is endless

So who will you chooose?, please give reason, thank you

This might be a little bit long but, read it only if you have time to spare. Enjoy,

As Dora Akunyili’s memo splits FEC, Ogbulafor set for Saudi Arabia to collect Yar’Adua’s letter

By Jide Ajani, Deputy editor
Vanguard Newspaper 06/02/2010

It was never expected to get to this point. But it has. When on the morning of Monday, November 23, 2009,
President Umaru Yar’Adua was flown out of Nigeria for medical attention in Saudi Arabia, his handlers in the
presidency envisaged a problem. Sunday Vanguard confirmed from a senator of the 2003-2007 set that indeed,
there was a letter already prepared and signed by President Yar’Adua on transfer of power.

A source close to the Presidential Liaison on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba-Aji, said the
non-transmission of the letter may have been borne out of Yar’Adua’s inability to pass the instruction at the
time of his departure.

Enter the hawks
It was between the time of flying Yar’Adua out of the country, and the expected transmission of the letter to the leadership of the National Assembly, that the hawks in Aso Rock Presidential Villa took over.

However, by the fourth week of Yar’Adua’s absence, when it was beginning to attain an embarrassing height, even the hawks came to terms with the ridicule they had made of President Yar’Adua who was just beginning to recover in far away Saudi Arabia.

The same Abba-Aji was to tell Nigerians on Thursday that President Yar’Adua would handover to his deputy.
That was 24 hours after Information Minister, Dora Akunyili, hit the hawks by their bumper at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting with a memo requesting that the right thing be done by President Yar’Adua.

Her memo, dripping with praises of President Yar’Adua hit the bull’s eye by insisting, proverbially, that “a goat does not get strangulated by the rope used in tying it when an adult is present”.

“The name of our President and all his achievements are being rubbished by this unfortunate debacle. The President and his family are also being put under undue pressure which will not help his recovery. If we fail to act now, history will not forgive us. I rest my case”, she said.

Despite Akunyili’s passionate plea to members of FEC, she was turned down. The hawks including Agriculture Minister Dr. Abba Ruma; Justice Minister, Chief Michael Aondoakaa; the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, see in Akunyili’s memo pure grandstanding. One of the henchmen in Yar’Adua’s camp told Sunday Vanguard that “what she has simply done is to, in an anticipatory manner, wade off any possible inquisition into her activities either as a minister or while serving at the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration, NAFDAC. When the President returns and any inquisition is to be carried out, Nigerians would say it is because she spoke out. On the other hand, she will be seen as a hero. This is Nigeria. People love playing games. But wait and see”, the source said.

But Sunday Vanguard learnt that once the opposition elements in the country got information in December that President Yar’Adua was, as a source put it, “in a really bad shape”, they went to town.

Their first approach was the launch of the G-54, a group of politicians and professionals, largely of the Action Congress, AC, stock. Their campaign was that President Yar’Adua should resign. And whereas some of those on the list of membership and signatories to the demand came out denying, many of them have since joined other groups to call for a quick resolution of what has become the Yar’Adua impasse.

Since that late December episode, many more eminent Nigerians have joined the call for either the resignation of President Yar’Adua, or a call on the National Assembly to institute proceedings for a possible impeachment of the president. There was the group of 41 eminent Nigerians led by Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senate President and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The kernel of the Anyim group’s push, was seemingly holistic. Dwelling more on general malaise in the country and zeroing-in on the Yar’Adua health issue, the former Senate President urged the National Assembly to engage a constitution amendment mode with a view to blocking the lacuna in Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution. Anyim told Senate President David Mark during the group’s visit to the National Assembly: “Mr. Senate President, a careful examination of Section 145 will reveal the following:

That the section grants a lot of discretion to the President to transmit this notice to the National Assembly. In addition to the above, that section does not contemplate a circumstance where the President is not capable of transmitting such written declaration for reasons of health, haste or any other circumstances beyond his control. Mr. Senate President, we want to emphasize that the present state of affairs in Nigeria has exposed the weakness of our Constitution in this regard and the most cogent step to take is to prepare its amendment with a view to preventing future occurrences. In the interim, what is required is a letter under the signature of Mr. President. You can agree sir that neither the letter nor the signature can be obtained through protest, threat or even bringing down our democracy”.

The leaders of the South South have also added their voice to the call for something positive to happen. In a statement signed by former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe, the group insisted that “The studied silence maintained by leaders of the South-South geo-political region over the vexed issue of the Vice President not acting as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on account of the unfortunate natural ill-health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has never been due to any influence whatsoever from anybody no matter how highly placed as claimed in some quarters. The attempt by a section of the Nigerian political class to scuttle the ascension of the Vice President to become an Acting President in accordance with the provisions of section 145 of the 1999 Constitution which has over-heated the polity is not only unfortunate but smacks the dignity and respect of majority of Nigerians”.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the man largely accused for imposing Yar’Adua on Nigerians also came out in what some still perceive as a curious move to demand for the hand-over to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
Then came former presidents and chief justices of the country led by General Yakubu Gowon. They made the same call for a handover as quickly as possible.

Even the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, added its voice in the call for the constitutional thing to be done.
At a time when even the ACF was calling for a respect of the constitution by President Yar’Adua, the five governors of Nigeria’s South East geo-political zone came out saying President Yar’Adua has not breached the constitution in any way.

And on Thursday, governors of the 19 northern states have sided with their Igbo brothers in unison, saying President Yar’Adua does not need to transmit any letter of handover, only for the Governors Forum comprising the 36 state governors to declare on Sunday that Jonathan should be made acting President.
Curiously, the hawks in Yar’Adua’s camp continue to assail the sensibilities of Nigerians on a weekly basis with tales of his possible and imminent return to the country.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that truly, in relative and comparative terms, President Yar’Adua is recovering. The flip-side to that assurance is how well is the recovery?

Sunday Vanguard gathered that apart from the rigours and stress which would accompany Yar’Adua’s flight from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, making public the physical state of the President would be nothing but a public relations fiasco and, therefore, the last thing the hawks want to do now is make him available.
Prof. Akunyili’s explosive memo seems to have changed the political equilibrium.

Within 24 hours of its release, the Presidential Liaison on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba-Aji said the President would now hand over to his deputy, while the media reported that the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor would be leaving for Saudi Arabia, today, for the purpose of convincing the President to sign a letter for the National Assembly to transfer power to Jonathan. Besides, the Governors Forum backed the proposal for the Vice President to assume office as President in acting capacity.

In a communique at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja, the governors resolved to: “meet the leadership of the National Assembly with a view to urging them to pass a resolution to formally recognize the Vice President as the acting president in the interest of the nation.” They urged the NASS to pass a resolution to that effect next week.

“The Forum calls on all arms of governments to continue to give full and total support to the acting president until the president returns in the interest of our dear and beloved country,” they said. The governors met with Jonathan in his office after issuing the communique, presidency sources said. “We now agreed to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly to urge them to pass a resolution recognising the vice president as the acting president of the nation,” Forum leader Bukola Saraki, who is governor of central Kwara State, told journalists after the meeting. “We unanimously resolved that all arms of government should support the vice president to discharge his duties as acting president of the country,” Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio also told reporters. “He (Jonathan) was happy with the decision of the governors,” he added.

Interestingly, there are those who have not added their voice to the unfolding impasse. Whereas some of those calling for an immediate handover simply are merely expectant of a new sphere of influence which would lead to bountiful prosperity in the Nigerian context, there are those whose calls are genuine.

Take, for instance, Chief Anthony Anenih, immediate past Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BOT. Not one given to flippancy, Sunday Vanguard’s attempt to feel his pulse on the on-going impasse was abortive. But it was gathered that the reason why the man called Mr. Fix It has maintained his silence is “because he believes that some of the people talking on either side are merely playing to the gallery. The Chief is not carried away by what is going on. When he would speak, he would speak the truth and would not care what anybody would say”, Sunday Vanguard was told by a source close to him.

For now, the pressure continues to mount. Will President Yar’Adua survive this storm.

G-54: Call for resignation: the list
Alani Akinrinade
Tunji Braithwaite,
Itse Sagay
Buba Galadima
Olawale Oshun,
Usman Bugaje
Adamu Maina Waziri
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai
Femi Falana
Yinka Odumakin
Sadiq Yar’Adua
Adamu Farouk Aliyu
JOS Ayomike
Naja’atu Muhammeed
Joe Okei-Odumakin,
Annkio Briggs
Jumoke Anifowose
Supo Shonibare
Odia Ofeimum
Lawal Garuba
Biodun Sowunmi
Ishaq Kurufi
Uche Onyeagocha
Bashir Idrs Nadabo
Kayode Ogundamisi
Saint George Eke
Bamidele Aturu
Sola Adeyeye
Osita Okechukwu
Haruna Yerima
Anselem Odinkalu
A. Branco-Rhodes
Almajiri Gaidam
Amitolu Shittu
Uba Sani
Supo Ojo
Hussaini Garun-Gabbas
Festus Okoye,
Salihu Lukman
Sam Amadi
Ken Nnamani
Adetokunbo Mumuni
Kabir Yahaya
Awwal Tukur
Tanko Yinusa
Nasir Kura
Achike Chude
Iboroma Akpana
Morakinyo Ogele
Ayo Obe

Their View
“It is also common knowledge that the incapacity of the president has affected the implementation of the nation’s budget because he was unable to coordinate the management of the national economy and to preside over the Federal Executive Council in a diligent manner. Finally, the current condition of the President has created a dangerous situation whereby no one is in charge of the affairs of the state contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
“As responsible and concerned individuals from every part of Nigeria, we call on President Umaru to resign”.

Those rooting for Jonathan to act as President
•Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
•ANYIM’s Eminent Nigerians Group
•Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON
•Amb Hassan Adamu, CON (Wakilin Adamawa)
•Chief Shuaib Oyedokun
•Major General Mohammed Magoro (rtd.),OFR, (Galadima Zuru)
•Hon. Chibudom Nwuche
•H.E. Senator Jim Nwobodo
•Hon. Justice Peter Akere (rtd.)
•H.E. Rev. Jolly Nyame
•H.E. Garba Nadama
•Rear Admiral Peter Ebeleme (rtd.)
•Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu
•Chief (Mrs.) Remi Adiukwu-Bakare
•Senator Isaiah Balat
•General Chris Garba (rtd.)
• Dr. Rabiu Kwakwanso
•Chief (Mrs.) Helen Esuene
•Alhaji Mantu Ibrahim, CFR
•Senator Walid Jibrin, OON
•Alhaji Yaro Makama
•Chief (Engr.) Charles Ugwu,
•General A.B. Maman, (rtd.)
•Professor Emeka Okoli
•Senator Zigo Aziz
•Barr. Danladi Ochekpe
•Lady Ime Essien Udom
•General Paul Tarfa (rtd.)
•Hajia Zainab Maina, MFR
•H.E. Amb. Adamu Aliyu,
•Hon. Austin Opara
•Alhaji A. Alhaji
•Professor Tunde Adeniran
•Alhaji Shaba Lafiagi
•Gen. Sam Teidi, (rtd.)
•Mr. Abu Shuluwa (Sema-Wan-U-Tiv)
•Chief G. Adukwu, OON
•Comrade Pascal Bafyau, mni
•Chief Mrs. Chinwe Obaji
•Hajia Hawa Kida
•Chief Innocent Anoliefo
•Alhaji Bala Abdullahi
•Captain Paul Tahal

Their view:
“Mr. Senate President, a careful examination of Section 145 will reveal the following: That the section grants a lot of discretion to the President to transmit this notice to the National Assembly. In addition to the above, that section does not contemplate a circumstance where the President is not capable of transmitting such written declaration for reasons of health, haste or any other circumstances beyond his control.

Mr. Senate President, we want to emphasize that the present state of affairs in Nigeria has exposed the weakness of our Constitution in this regard and the most cogent step to take is to prepare its amendment with a view to preventing future occurrences. In the interim, what is required is a letter under the signature of Mr. President. You can agree sir that neither the letter nor the signature can be obtained through protest, threat or even bringing down our democracy. That the leadership of the National Assembly should take concrete steps to uphold the Constitution with due regard to national stability and democracy;

•That, in addition to the resolutions already adopted by both chambers of the National Assembly and the court judgment in this matter, the National Assembly should come out boldly to assure the nation that the machinery they have set in motion is capable of yielding the desired results; •That the National Assembly should appeal to all those who are agitated to please down tools while the National Assembly expedite efforts to resolve the impasse. This, we believe, will calm down the tension and forestall the possibility of people taking laws into their hands; and

•That every effort should be made to effect the amendment of necessary sections of the Constitution in this regard to forestall a reoccurrence in the future.”

SOUTH SOUTH LEADERS
Former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Edo,
Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, Rivers
Professor Amb. Lawrence Ekpebu, Bayelsa
Air Comdr. Idongesit Nkanga, Akwa Ibom
Chief Ambrose Akpanika, Cross Rivers
Chief Peter Y. Biakpara, Delta
Rev. Grace Ekanem and Dr. Esther Uduehi.
Chief Edwin K. Clark, OFR, CON
Prof. (Amb) Lawrence Ekpebu, OFR,
Olorogun Felix Ibru
Chief Ephraim Faloughi-Spiff, OON,
Hon. Dr. Bolere Ketebu
Chief Mrs Helen Esuene
Chief Jackson Sunny Udoh
Sen. Fred Brume
Sen. Chief Tari Sekibo, JP MFR
Hon. Chief Ewa Ita Henshaw
Chief Francis Doukpola
Dr. B. Adasen
Dr. M. P. Okonny
Hon. (Chief) P. Y. Biakpara
Lady Anne Yougha
Dr. Mike Oberabor
Hon. Denyanbofa Dimaro
Hon. Chibudum Nwuche
Lady Ime Udom
Chief Ayakeme E. Whisky.

Their View
“The absence of a sitting President for almost 60 (Now 76) days has exposed the country to international reprobation and ridicule, such that even in the most challenging situation, Nigeria has no voice to represent the country. Some disgruntled self serving elements from the South-South region have been collaborating with a cabal which includes ministers, governors, National Assembly members, past governors, party leaders, to put the unity of this country asunder by planning to scuttle constitutionalism and democracy in the country.

“The studied silence maintained by leaders of the South-South geo-political region over the vexed issue of the Vice President not acting as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on account of the unfortunate natural ill-health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has never been due to any influence whatsoever from anybody no matter how highly placed as claimed in some quarters.

The attempt by a section of the Nigerian political class to scuttle the ascension of the Vice President to become an Acting President in accordance with the provisions of section 145 of the 1999 Constitution which has over-heated the polity is not only unfortunate but smacks the dignity and respect of majority of Nigerians”.

Eminent Elders Group
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd)
Former President Shehu Shagari
Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head, ING
Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme
Former Chief Justices of the Federation, Hon. Justice Mohammed Uwais
Justice Alfa Belgore
Justice Idris Kutigi
Former Army Chief Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma
Former PDP Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar
Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark
Former Minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma
Former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana
Former Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Joda
Senator Jonathan Zwingina, the facilitator

Their View
“For well over eight weeks now, our President has been ill and out of the country. This illness and long absence from the country is causing serious concern not only to Nigerian citizens but all those who do business with Nigeria and have the well being of the country at heart.

“It is for the reason that I called the meeting of some of our former Presidents and Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria and elder statesmen today.

“Following a critical review of the general political situation of the country in the recent past, but more especially since the illness of the President and his prolonged absence, it was decided to address this letter to your Excellency, the Vice President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Resolution of the issue of Acting President pending the return of the President. It is important to resolve this issue by inviting the President to formally issue the necessary communication that will enable the Vice President to be Acting President in accordance with section 145 of the 1999 Constitution as soon as possible.

Yar’Adua’s men
* Justice Minister, Michael Aondoakaa
Agriculture minister, Abba Ruma
Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Tanimu Yakubu
Alhaji Tanko Yakassai
Prince Vincent Ogbulafor
Ahmed Makarfi
George Akume
Ahmad Sani Yerima
Kabiru Gaya
Maina Mai’d Lawan
Teslim Folarin
Joseph Akaagerger
Gbemisola Saraki
Simeon Ajibola
Mohammed Maina
Dahiru Gasol
Sahabi Alhaji Yau
Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan
Umaru Dahiru
David Mark
Tony Anenih

By: Taiwo Adisa, Abuja
Saturday Tribune


Senators who are pushing for the impeachment of President Umaru Yar’Adua for failing to transmit a vacation letter to the National Assembly

in line with a resolution of the Senate have fixed next Wednesday for a final showdown on the

issue.

The Senators who are members of the National Interest Group (NIG) were also said to have received communication from some South South groups, who commended them for sticking to the dictates of the 1999 Constitution.

Sources also confirmed that a delegation of some South South groups also met with the Senators in Abuja with a message from the militants, who informed the lawmakers that their actions have so far stalled a full blown breakdown of law and order in the creeks.

The group was said to have declared that it was prepared to wait on the Senators to resolve the logjam in the polity, failing which the militants can take their fate in their hands.

“We met with some South South groups, at a location in Abuja, who said they were impressed with measures taken so far by the Senate. They said that they have decided to give us the benefit of the doubt to resolve the logjam and that after next week, they may be forced to count on their wisdom,” a source close to the NIG said.

It was gathered that the group has also commissioned human right lawyers, who have been tasked to comb the constitution and seek out impeachable offences against the President in the past two years.

Besides the refusal of the President to obey a resolution of the Senate, the lawmakers believe that there are certain impeachable offences that the President has committed in the course of his assignment so far.

“We have commissioned a consortium of lawyers to compile impeachable offences. We are meeting on Wednesday next week to determine the way forward. We are going to decide whether we should go ahead with the impeachment motion next week. We have also set up a three member team to liaise with the team of lawyers who would harmonise the impeachable offences,”

“Besides, we have written to pro-democracy activists to submit possible impeachable offences that they have identified in the course of the tenure of the president,” a source close to the Senators said.

A source said that the group of lawmakers are also working on the proposal made to them by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at a caucus meeting on Wednesday, where the party’s leaders pleaded that the senators should give them one week to get the president’s vacation letter.

The Senators, according to sources, only want to filter information from the party for Monday and Tuesday before determining the seriousness of the party leaders in getting the letter.

The Senate had on January 27, passed a unanimous resolution, asking President Umaru Yar’Adua to transmit a vacation letter to the lawmakers in line with section 145 of the constitution.

But there have been silence from the president since the motion was passed, prompting NIG members to seek to activate impeachment moves against the president.

By: Idowu Samuel, Abuja
Saturday Tribune

Indications pointing towards an early resolution of the vacuum in government owing to the prolonged absence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua have started emerging

as more members of Cabinet have started paying solidarity visit to

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Saturday Tribune can reveal.

Findings have revealed that the Minister of Information, Dr Dora Akunyili, who insisted on the need for Yar’Adua to hand over to his deputy during the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was not the only Cabinet member who shared the view.

Besides Akunyili, three other Ministers, one from south-south, another from the Middle Belt and the third from south-west, according to findings, had agreed to advise the last FEC meeting on the need to advise Yar’Adua to transmit the required letter to Jonathan in line with constitutional stipulation, only that the Information Minister beat them to it by putting her thought in a memo, which was eventually turned down.

Saturday Tribune also learnt on good authority that two core members of the so called kitchen cabinet of President Yar’Adua had visited the vice president twice during the week, pledging secret loyalty to him, even amid strident support being cast for the President by different groups and prominent individuals from the north.

The sudden support being gained by the vice president from unusual quarters of late, findings have revealed, was not unconnected with the stark reality that even if President Yar’Adua returns to Nigeria, he may not muster the full strength to resume work immediately as he earlier assured in his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The rethink on President Yar’Adua’s issue by Cabinet members, as revealed by investigations arose from the latest picture being painted on his health condition by those said to have managed to see him where he is being kept in Saudi Arabia, and which conveyed an impression that he should not be expected back on his presidential seat very soon.

An Abuja based public commentator, Alhaji Buba Galadima, had revealed that the fear of possible Sack in the post Yar’Adua regime had informed the resolve by FEC members to declare him fit to continue in office, notwithstanding that no cabinet members had had the opportunity to see him after leaving the shores of the country, and notwithstanding that no medical report on the President’s true health situation was presented to FEC.

President Yar’Adua’s Adviser to the National Assembly, Alhaji Muhammed Abba Aji had, during the week, dropped the signal about an end time game for the President when he assured that the expected letter of vacation from the President on his health condition would reach the National Assembly in a matter of days.

Although the ranks of state governors who, hitherto, constitute a powerful support base for President Yar’Adua appear to have been broken. A good number of them who met in Abuja on Thursday night resolved to support the vice President to take over the function of president Yar’Adua in acting capacity.

The Governors Forum who issued a communiqué to that effect urged members of the FEC to continue according the vice president all necessary support that he deserves, even as members promised to make consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly on the need to respond to constitutional requirements towards facilitating the takeover of power by the vice president.