ALLOW JONATHAN, OTHERS ACCESS TO YAR'ADUA

By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna

Christians, under the aegis of Christian Elders Forum of Northern States, NOSCEF, have called on Nigeria's first lady, Hajia Tura'i Yar'Adua and all others blocking access to ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua to allow acting President Goodluck Jonathan, the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker Dimeji Bankole and other leading Nigerian leaders access to the ailing President.

The group insisted that since those managing Yar'Adua are 'now claiming that he is back to the country,' he should without any further delay address the nation, adding that the health of the President should not be treated along religious or ethnic lines.

While further insisting that the acting President should concentrate his energy on 'power generation and distribution, completion of the constitutional review and the arrangement of a creditable election in 2011 and the Niger Delta amnesty programme,' the group further accused the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. AbdulRahman Dambazzau and the Commander, Brigade of Guards of treasonable felony for allegedly deploying troops along major roads in Abuja without the consent and approval of the Acting President when President Yar'Adua was smuggled into the country from Saudi Arabia.

To this end the group is also calling for the immediate sack of the Chief of Army Staff and the Commander, Brigade of Guards.

The group's positions are contained in a communiqué issued in Kaduna at the weekend, at the end of its meeting, and was signed by its chairman, Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye and Publicity Secretary, Mordecai Ibrahim.

While equally condemning the manner in which the health condition of President Yar'Adua is being handled, especially by the aides, the group equally wants presidential spokesman, Olesegun Adeniyi, to explain to the Nigerians how he came about the statement he issued, expressing President Yar'Adua's appreciation to the Nigerian people, and refering to the acting President as Vice President.

'The constitutional logjam arising from the ill health of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is NOT a religious one, neither is it a tribal or party affair.