Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua’s fitness to rule is being questioned. (Photo Courtesy Nation)

Abuja — The Youth Awareness Association, a non- violent activist group, has called on the National Assembly to commence moves that will ensure that President Umaru Musa hands over the reins of power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan without further delay.

The group said failure to heed to this call will lead to the group calling for a nation wide protest in major towns and cities across the country.

The National President of the association, Alhaji Umar Sani, made the declaration in a media briefing in Abuja yesterday.

Sani said it was against the progress of the country at this stage of its national and democratic development for a cabal to insist on holding on to power while the nation suffers. He stated that the country has suffered unwanted political and economic problems due to the impasse that has been created with the absence of the president and his inability to hand over to his vice pending his return.

According to the youth leader, the failure of Mr. president to hand over will witness unprecedented protests in various towns and cities in the country. He also called on other civil society organisations to support their line of action.

The Youth Awareness Association also specifically condemned the illegal signing of the 2009 supplementary Appropriation Bill by the president while on his sick bed, stressing that they will do all they can to ensure that those people that carried out such treasonable act are brought to book. It further condemned the swearing in of the new Chief Justice of the Federation by the former Chief Justice as a breach of the constitutional provisions.

In a related development, the Niger Delta Youths Assembly, has also asked the Federal Executive Council to invoke relevant sections of the constitution that will ensure the survival of the country at this point of our national life.

The coordinator of the group, Comrade Nwokoma M. Ndubuisi, made the call in Abuja while charging its members to continue to be law abiding with a proviso that whatever happens to the vice president will be treated as an attack on the good people of the region and Nigerians in general.

The group also asked political leaders irrespective of their political or traditional affiliations to ensure that the constitution prevails in whatever circumstances.

He urged the National Assembly to be alive to its duty as true representatives of the people.