It is not only ridiculous but scandalous that the exco members who had earlier given a clean bill of health to the President they had not seen since he left hurriedly for Saudi, have now chosen to send a delegation to verify his health condition. But then, it is a direct reflection of the thinking power of the ruling elite who choose to act before thinking.

At least, doing the first thing first before passing a clean bill of health would not only have saved the nation the unnecessary trauma but it would also have saved the tax payers the ordeal of watching how their money is being frittered away by those elected to serve them, but who are now junketing all over the place. Was it not foolhardy that a supposedly exalted office like the federal exco would have refused to jettison petty sentiments and unnecessary party supremacy to think as a people representing Nigeria and not representing them even when doing the right thing is at the expense of their job. But for the courage of Professor Dora Akunyili who blew the lid on their disagreements, perhaps the nation would have continued in the 'cocoon of ignorance' of their president's state of health induced by the ruling elite which only think of its enlightened self interest alone at the expense of less privileged Nigerians

But it is now obvious that the exco members who are the gainers of the endless Saudi trips would be the direct beneficiaries of several thousands of dollars in estacode by the six federal ministers who have been mandated to go and verify the health condition of the president. It is also not impossible that after 'merry go rounding' for some days, the six- man team who are just embarking on unnecessary 'unholy' pilgrimage and tourism at the expense of the Nigerian state, would only return to the country to give us the expected news - we have searched everywhere but couldn't locate the President. And after this merry go round and the negative report, the expected chorus from the cabinet would be: impeach him. This action if carried out would present another test for our judiciary and democracy - doing the right thing after the impeachment. But must we always go through pains to observe the law and do what is right?

The Presidential Jet 'Coup Plot'

Unknown to many some smart Alecs in the corridors of power those outside it are trying desperately to put their surrogate and their man there and the looters for office are busy contriving new tricks and plans everyday.

Snippets can reveal authoritatively that the power-mongers who want the back of the ailing president are contriving new methods to achieve their aim by using the Presidential jet.

Snippets sources can reveal that the desperados have gone back to history and are about to re-enact the trick President Paul Biya used to get rid of ailing former President Ahmadu Ahidjo in 1991.When the former President, who was then still very popular and powerful in Cameroon, went on medical treatment to France - the nation's colonial master - in 1991, his successor who by then was trying to stabilize in power after Ahidjo had ruled for 22 years since Independence in 1969, thought of an ingenious but rather wicked devise to keep the man there in France recuperating, an idea was suggested to Biya and he took it hook, line and sinker. Thus when the former president tried to return home with the presidential jet at his beck and call, the nation's landing tower received instructions to refuse entry for the aircraft. The instruction was carried out to the letter and in spite of pleas from the former colonial master, his jet was prevented from landing and he had no choice than to make a detour back to France. The shock of the treatment and rejection at home eventually killed Ahidjo who died from the shock two weeks later in France.

Now the same 'evil' minds in the corridors of power and those outside it, but who are trying to get there, are devising new ways to accomplish their mission by advising the good luck man now holding forth for Umaru and Turai - the powerful first lady - how to keep them away from Aso House for ever.

The plan is to get the presidency to withdraw the presidential jet which had been parked in Saudi Arabia this past 90 days, waiting for the president's emergency return trip to Nigeria. However, this plan was often frustrated by the constant relapse of the President's health whenever the plans were almost accomplished, and this made it pretty difficult for him to be brought back according to the wish of his 'kitchen' cabinet to frustrate the plan to make the vice an acting president.

If the man, who is ironically married to a patient bird, heeds their advice and withdraws the presidential jet, it would be pretty difficult for the man to return to power, at least not in a commercial airline as this would be difficult for his state of health.

Let us all watch and pray while the intrigues and the power play in Aso House lasts.