Lagos — Former Special Adviser to the immediate past president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Media and Publicity, Dr Doyin Okupe, has criticised the Federal Government and National Assembly over their reactions on the call for President Umaru Yar'Adua to resign as a result of his ailing health.

He said no officer of government or heads of institutions in Nigeria has any greater stake in the country than any other citizen.

In a statement, he said "The reaction of the Federal Government as conveyed by the Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and the National Assembly to the call by some eminent Nigerians for President Musa Yar'Adua to resign as a result of his illness is unfortunate and uncalled for.

He cautioned that it is about time the various arms of government imbibed the principle of transparency, civilised and good governance.

"Ascension to any position of power in any democracy is a temporary privilege and should not be misconstrued as conferring any special power on the holders of such position to the extent that the will of the people or their quest for information can be subverted with impunity.

"Every Nigerian deserves the right to query how he or she is being governed, or the competence or otherwise of those who govern him or her," he added.

Okupe noted that the Federal Executive Committee is made up of largely Nigerians appointed by Mr. President to assist in running his government, stressing that, "The Federal Executive Committee cannot talk down or attempt to cow any group of Nigerians no matter how distasteful they find the opinions being expressed."

He explained that the FEC is expected to use the avalanche of resources within its membership to explain situations in such a manner as to allay the fears of ordinary Nigerians and re-assure genuine critics of the administration that all is well.

Okupe reasoned that an appropriate reaction to the call for resignation would have been an intelligent, honest and expert explanation on why the present state of health of Yar'Adua does not warrant his resignation.