Abuja — The Nigerian National Assembly, comprising both the Senate and the House of Representatives, at separate sittings in Abuja on Tuesday, passed measures calling on Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to take over from President Umaru Yar'Adua until he returns from Saudi Arabia, where he as been receiving medical treatment for a heart condition since late November.
Last month, ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, presently in Saudi Arabia since 78 days ago, granted an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), stating he would return to the country pending when there is improvement in his health.
Senate President David Mark said that telephone interview served as all the notification needed to allow Jonathan to take power.
"The BBC interview is as good as the letter envisioned by the constitution," Mark said.
The motions from the two chambers of lawmakers would see Jonathan be sworn in as president.
The motion would allow Yar'Adua to re-assume the presidency if he returns to the country healthy enough to lead the nation of 150 million people. However, many have worried the president may be too seriously ill to serve again, throwing into question who will lead the ruling party in the 2011 presidential election.
As questions mounted, his physician released a statement saying Yar'Adua had acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.
While Nigerian law allows for a smooth transition of power from Yar'Adua to the vice president, the 58-year-old president left without following any of those procedures.
While the federal government says Jonathan has been acting in Yar'Adua's place without the constitutional procedures, protesters have taken to the street warning the country will remain rudderless until something changes.
Jonathan taking power also would disrupt an unwritten power-sharing agreement between Nigeria's Christian south and the Muslim north. Jonathan, a Christian, would be taking over for Yar'Adua, a Muslim, before his appointed time was up.
Comments 1 to 3 of 3 Post a comment
Things are not what they seem. Nigerians should not be carried away by this unhealthy development. It is FAKE. This matter has not been handled according to the law of the land. Senator Mark and others who supported him seem to take Nigerians for granted. The VP's empowerment should not be as if it is by anybody's benevolence. It should be according to the constitution.
It doesn't matter whether or not Ya'Ardua returns to Nigeria. Absence without official leave (AWOL) especially for such an extended period is an offence serious enough to attract dismissal anywhere in the world. Ya'Ardua should be impeached. Furthermore all those aides and ministers who were involved in the conspiracy in any way should be investigated and, if found guilty thoroughly punished. This is the only way to eradicate the culture of corruption and impunity That is the only way forward!!!
Last month, ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, presently in Saudi Arabia since 78 days ago, granted an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), stating he would return to the country pending when there is improvement in his health.
"Senate President David Mark said that telephone interview served as all the notification needed to allow Jonathan to take power....."
Could anyone make a meaning from Senate Pres. Mark inference from his comment? It looks like another 419 because to reach such a conclusion without actually a written notification from the President opens the door for "he said you said kind of thing" leaving the door open to yank power from Gooddluck when the President returns whether he fit or not to govern.
Nigerians deserve better than to draw a conclusion from BBC telephone interview. If Musa could talk to BBC he might as well sign a document of transfer of power to Mr. Good Luck. Without such a sign document Nigerians are in for another shocker you will say that I told you so.
Am I to understand that the only criteria for becoming a Nigerian President is either that one is a Muslim or a Christian? Should Nigeria be choosing its leaders on religious basis or on the merits of a demonstrable leadership quality? If we assume that this is the only way by which we can choose a leader, I would daresay that we are going to be doomed for ever.
Take a good look at the governorship election in Anambra State. With the myriads of contestants, the best man prevailed. There was no religious conotation in the selection process. What transpired was that the best man with a vision for Anambra State was able to sell his package to the electorate, and equally presented a very persuasive argument before the voting public. In the end, the best man won the election convincingly. It wasn't a matter of PDP attempting to hoodwink anyone. Quality prevailed over superfluity; no pun intended on Dr. Soludo.
We would tend to sacrifice quality for mediocrity, as we are now witnessing with the problem of handpicking a successor for a post as important as the President of the Nigerian Federation. I am sure there are quite a number of very highly qualified Northerners whose health conditions would have not been seen as wanting, and who could have endured the rigours of running the gamut of electioneering exercises, from the primaries to the general election, as we have it here in the United States. To have chosen someone whose health conditions were questionable for this position is to have done a great disservice to the North. I personally do not agree with the North/South rotational process of selecting a leader for Nigeria. For someone to serve in this position, he or she should be able to appeal to all Nigerians irrespective of their religious persuations. To try to institute this as a means of choosing our leaders of tomorrow, we shall always be looking at Nigeria's problems through the prisms of North/South politics. We do have four regions or six geopolotical zones. For someone to want to lead Nigeria, he must be conversant with the cultural dictates of each region. Afterall, if such a person is elected, he would not be serving the interest of the region where he or she comes from. He/she would be serving the interest of all Nigerians, party affiliiations notwithstanding.
If the Nigerian Constitution is arranged to the degree that the selection of one who leads the country is based on regional apportionment, we would be sacrificing quality. This is primarily the reason why the Northern Governors protested initially for someone from the Niger Delta to become the Acting President. The Presidency is NOT a personal asset of any region. It an office in which all Nigerians tend to vote who would lead them for a four year span. Such a person receives a mandate from all Nigerians. It should not be an exclusive preserve of any particular region. Now is the time for those embarking on the Constitutional Review to address this issue once and for all, and ensure that the concept of a rotational presidency would become a thing of the past. We are looking for quality and a mature individual to lead the country, not someone who would represent any particular region. I think, merely contemplating on the concept of religiosity and politics as a criteria for selecting who may represent Nigeria is in itself a mistake. Using religion as a cover has a serious drawback for a country of 150 Million, many of whom may not either Christians or Muslims.
If we continue to take this route, we may forever sacrifice quality and continue to settle for mediocrity as I have stated earlier. We have one Nation, one Constitution, one people dedicated to the betterment of the African Continent. Though we may have different languages and customs, we are always going to be Nigerians. To divide the rulership of the country along religious lines is to legitimize a parallel constitution as has been demonstrated by those who wish to enforce certain religious laws on free thinking Nigerians. To be a leader of this great nation, one must be able to move freely among all Nigerians, regardless of their religious affiliations. There is ONLY ONE God. Each group or ethnicity refer to Him with different names. Whatever name one chooses to call Him, it would not change the dynamics of who He is. There will always be right and wrong. It wouldn't matter if you are a Muslim or a Christian. But the selection of a leader should not be based on religion, but rather on quality, integrity, maturity, an ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and above all, a love for our dear country - Nigeria.