How Governors Saved Yar’Adua From Executive Council Hammer
San Francisco March 03, (THEWILL) – An investigation by THEWILL has revealed that Nigerian powerful state governors who met with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday played a major role in saving ailing President Yar'Adua from what pundits had expected to be the beginning of his removal from office at the Executive Council of the Federation meeting on Wednesday morning.
A source at the meeting between the governors and Jonathan said the governors impressed it on him that there was no immediate need to initiate moves to remove Yar'Adua because of his ailment arguing that it would further increase the tension in the polity and open the ethnic North and South debate. The governors also canvassed that Jonathan ease the divide amongst members of the Executive Council especially those that have been very critical of Yar'Adua's handlers for not being forthcoming with the truth on his ailment. They particularly cited the recent outbursts of Professor Dora Akunyili in the media accusing Yar'Adua's aides of deceit and lying to Nigerians.
Interestingly, what the Acting President did not know was that the governors were only trying to checkmate his rising profile and influence having assumed full powers.
Checks at the Governors' Forum meeting earlier on Tuesday, revealed that some governors tried to convince their colleagues on the need to allow Jonathan remain as Acting President cautioning that he may not carry them along if they supported the move to force President Yar'Adua to resign. Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva and Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, both pro-Yar'Adua elements in the forum spoke in favour of maintaining the current political arrangement. They pointed to Jonathan's recent announcement of three committees (The PAC, FPAC and NDDC Monitoring Committee) without the governors' input as evidence that he may not carry them along.
After listening to various arguments, the governors agreed to maintain the current arrangement for now to see how things play out at the presidency. Curiously, none of the governors have seen Yar'Adua since his hospitalization and presumed return to Abuja.
The governors' unfavourable disposition towards Yar'Adua's removal forced the Executive Council to shelve Wednesday's major debate and planned vote on Yar'Adua's incapacitation for now.
Pro-Yar'Adua Ministers who had also expected a major cabinet change were seen leaving the Council chamber relieved to have survived yet another session.