SNG Insists On March 3rd Deadline For Yar’Adua’s Removal

Source: thewillnigeria.com

Abuja Feb 22, (THEWILL) – As the Yar'Adua family assisted by the kitchen cabinet continues its hide and seek game with Nigerians, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) has reiterated its stand and given the executive council of the federation till Wednesday, March 3, 2011 to declare the ailing President permanently incapacitated.

Addressing the press on Monday, Mr. Salihu Lukman, a member of the group's coordinating committee said the council must activate Section 144 of the Constitution when its delegation returns home whether or nor it sees the ailing president.

"If they fail to see the President, it will be conclusive evidence that he is permanently incapacitated and can no longer act as President. The Acting President should then be sworn in as President."

The group warned that after the expiration of the deadline and the government refuses to act, "The Nigerian people will take steps to protect democracy by ensuring that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan becomes president.

"It is more important to state that our position on this crisis is not about President Yar'Adua as a person, or even about Goodluck Jonathan. Our position is predicated on the need to follow legal and constitutional means in the resolution of national issues. This is the only way democracy can survive and flourish, and indeed, it is the only way by which Nigeria can be said to be governed by the rule of law.

"His absence is already bad enough. If you read our labour laws you will find out that somebody can be declared missing after three days of absconding from duty, and to be away for 90 days without a trace of his whereabouts is enough to declare him missing," Salihu explained.

The group wants the executive council delegation to return with concrete evidence including photographs and video images of the president if it claims the president is recovering or in good health, warning it has had enough of talks without any evidence.

The executive council team finally left Nigeria on Monday evening after clearing all the mix-ups that had stalled its earlier departure to Saudi Arabia.

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has been in Saudi Arabia since November 23rd 2009 and has not been seen in public since then.