MELODRAMA OF POWER: NOW THAT YAR ADUA HAS ARRIVED
Dr Olayiwola Ajileye, Media and Publicity Coordinator, Champions for Nigeria (CFN)
Sick president was flown in from his base in Saudi Arabia Wednesday the 24th February
2010, where he has ostensibly been recieving treatment in the last 90 days for multi-organ
failure and Acute Pericarditis. This operation was shrouded in secrecy, as there was no
official communication to any organ of government informing of the impending return of the
President into the country. The whole operation was done under the cover of darkness with
the First Lady, Mrs Turai Yar Adua and a section of the military and political class in
conspiracy to keep Nigerians in the dark about the state of health of our first public officer,
an elected President. This action, without being immodest, is an embarrassment to the state
of Nigeria and the sensibility of the long suffering 150million Nigerians who have patiently
waited and pray for the quick recovery of the president.
I have written articles before based on Medical sociology of Illness and Sickness (President
Yar Adua: In Sickness and in Health) in support of the effort of the President in seeking
medical attention as his due right and the obligations to do so and exemption from duties
during these period of treatment. But there are laid down constitutional framework and
procedures that should be followed if the period of treatment is prolonged so that the affairs
of the nation and national security is not compromised. Clearly, for reasons best viewed as
politically and irresponsibly motivated by few individuals who have decided to usurp the
presidential mandate and abuse our constitutional provisions, this guideline has not been
adhered to. Not until patience ran out and our elected parliamentarians intervene to save
the nation at the brink of collapse and correct the wrong that was being perpetrated, that
the country heaved a sigh of relieve. That relieve was however short-lived as the same
agent of retrogression and selfish ambition decided to resurface the crisis and smuggled
the president into the country under the cover of darkness.
Now that the president has returned, firstly, we welcome him back and wish him quick
recovery. But then we need to see him and get him to talk to the nation and his people. He
needs to physically appear in person to chair the affairs of the nation or declare his return
to the national assembly for due recognition. This is not politics, but mere common sense
and courtesy. Failing all that, I would think that Nigeria would assume that he has not
returned or perhaps, he is not with us in soul and mind. The office of the president is
greater than anyone, we have had other ex-presidents, many of whom are alive today...it is
a temporary state.
The way forward IN THIS MELODRAMA...NOW THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ARRIVED and
would not show his face but wants to run by proxy, I would advise that Ministers with
courage and dignity should resign en mass or go awol.... AG President Jonathan should go
on vacation for 30-40 days, to allow the returned President run his government the way he
deemed fit, International community should withdraw their ambassadors and post
replacement who will need to present credence letter to be received by the president in
person for...If the kitchen cabinet and Turai Yar Adua try to appoint new ministers, then the
question will be asked about who make the appointment, who will refer them to the senate
for confirmation and who will swear them in.then the truth about the Yar Adua state of health
and cover up lies will come out...the system will be paralysed and Turai would have failed in
her bid to rule the country by proxy...
There is no constitutional role for our Ag President to see or be briefed by the First Lady.
Nigeria is not a banana republic or a monarchical state. We are a democracy with
presidential system in place backed by the relevant constitution and system of government.
The concept of first Lady in African politics should be abolished as it has been
demonstrably abused by Turai and Yardua family who has put the nation into disrepute
globally by her actions and inactions...Why is it that Nigeria always set bad precedent in
political affairs among the comity of nations? What does Turai want to do with presidential
power other than to wield influence and steal from the national purse with her
comrades...what does she know about running a country? Does she think running a country
is all about awarding contracts and pimping beautiful daughters to the highest bidder?
Nigeria cannot have ghost as president. When Zambia president went abroad for treatment
for two months, he handed over to his deputy, the nation was well informed about his state
of health before he passed away and he was given a state respectable burial followed by a
democratic election, same in Gabon, same situation in Cuba when Fidel Castro fell ill he
honourably handed over the reins of government, Mandela did the same when he realised
that he has edged his name on the annal of world leaders and history. Not to talk of other
developed countries like Isreal, America etc. This idea of zoning and north south dichotomy
is not suitable for a very divided country and immature democracy like Nigeria. Our
constitution is very weak and hence easily violated by faceless individuals who by now
should be languishing in prison for subversion of constitution and treasonable felony.
If a president has been away from his duty post without official leave or adherence to
procedural guideline, if we forgive that, though it is an unconstitutional behaviour and
violation of our sovereignty, dereliction of duty, we cannot forgive or pretend to understand
why he cannot address the nation on his return and communicate with the people who have
been praying for his recovery and wellbeing all these while to show his preparedness to
return to service of the nation, this is discourteous, subversion of our constitutional integrity.
The military are complicit in these matter and the police who should be the protector of our
national security and constitutional integrity which they sworn to uphold. No nation can have
two Commanders in chief at the same time. The question of insubordination on the part of
the military in the Yar Adua return affairs is disgraceful and treasonable. It is either they are
in power or out of power. Who gave the military order or signal to mobilise troops to the
airport? What happen to the chain of command? Who switched of the light and who cleared
the landing of the plane? Who approved visa for the medical personnel that accompanied
him, who checked them into the country.
This is a national security issue! Has the seat of power and government now been turned to
a specialised hospital units where foreign medical personnel will have access to sensitive
national brief and information on our day to day running of government affairs? Where in
the world is this kind of arrangement allowed? If the president is still sick, he should return
to where he came from or go to hospital to receive medical intervention. These are not
activities that should be taking place in the office of the presidency in the full glare of
foreign nationals under the guise of providing medical intervention for our president. What
about the threat to national security in respect of such arrangement? The actions and
inactions of the president's handlers is a blatant compromise of our national security and
democratic establishment.
Acting President Jonathan is not under any under obligation to collaborate in the subversive
agenda, he has the mandate of Nigerians, the International community and constitutionally
to serve the country in that capacity with full presidential authority until such times that the
recovering president would be fit and able to resume the running of the state affairs. Some
things can be done with money and billions of it, but some things are just not right
regardless, Lets call a spade a spade, The parliamentarians, elected representatives of the
people cannot be complicit in this arrangement, Nigeria Constitution must be upheld at all
cost. That is the way forward and threat is what Nigeria and friends of Nigeria around the
world expect.
Dr Olayiwola Ajileye
Publicity and Media Coordinator
Champions for Nigeria