. . . State of the Nation!

For a long time now, we have been living in "fear of the unknown"

I have been AWOL for quite some time!

I use this medium to express my heartfelt sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones in the ill fated DanaAir crash on June 3, 2012. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen!

It has been one ugly incident after the other!

For a very long time, Nigerians (particularly my fellow brothers and sisters in the Northern States) have been living in the "fear of the unknown". A friend who is based in Abuja informed me that it is so bad that she hardly steps out of her house. She said she is afraid to move around. It is that bad! What a pity!

On Sunday, 17 June 2012, a total of three Churches were attacked (bombed) by the dreaded islamist sect otherwise known and addressed as boko haram. As it is expected with such attacks, people died! Properties were damaged!

The boko haram sect claimed responsibility for these bombings (like they have always done in the past). One of such attacks was the Christmas Day (2011) bombing on a Catholic Church near Abuja. There was another attack on Easter Day (2012). These attacks are usually carried out while Christians are worshiping!

While I do not believe in the "eye for an eye" doctrine because, that would make every one on earth go blind, I however believe there is a limit to everything! When an individual is pushed to the wall, and has no where to run to, that person would fight back! O yes! I believe that might be the reason for the reprisal attacks that followed almost immediately! News had it that after that attack on the Church on Sunday, angry young Christians began a violent protest and started attacking mosques and motorbike operators (okada riders).

Anyway, enough is enough! Enough of these killings!

In the midst of all these uncertainties and insecurity in the Nation, our dear president, GEJ had the "mind" to travel to Brazil in order to attend the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. I consider such an action as insensitive and very uncaring! GEJ could have been represented by ANY member of his cabinet!

Bomb Explosion in Suleja!

I woke up this morning to hear the sad news about the explosion that rocked the INEC office in Suleja. This horrid act has claimed 11 lives including some NYSC members!

For more on this sad story, please visit 234next.com.

Source: 234next.com

What? This quest for power is getting too much. To win an election should not be a do or die affair o! So far, over 900 people lost their lives during the so called campaigns and other political rallies! What is all this?

God Bless Nigeria! I believe that no matter what happens, the will of God will be done in Nigeria! God Bless Nigeria!

Elections 2011!

Election 2011 commence today 02/04/2011!

All over the Nation, Nigerians would go out to cast their VOTES in favour of their chosen candidates.

During the past few weeks, particularly during campaigns and political rallies, there had been various degrees of violence recorded as a result of clashes between rival political parties. Some major party stalwarts have decamped to rival political parties. I wonder why they had to wait till the last minute to make this move.

The candidates made SEVERAL promises. One common promise made by all candidates is that they would revamp the power sector! We have to hold them up to their promises! We have to leave a better Nigeria for our children and their generation.

Nigerians, please go to your polling center with your Voters Registration card and vote for the candidate of your choice! No matter how long it take to get accredited, please be patient and vote.

Today, Saturday 2 April, 2011 we shall be electing people to represent us in the Senate and House of Representatives. Please vote for credible representatives. Not fighters!

On Saturday 9 April, 2011, Nigerians would go out to elect a President for our great Nation. Finally, the  Governorship and State Assembly Elections would be held on Saturday 16 April, 2011.

I heard in the News that between the hours of 8am to 12pm, eligible voters are expected to be at the Polling Centers for accreditation on each election day. The voting exercise would commence by 12.30pm.

Contrary to what the Inspector General of Police purportedly said, the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) announced that voters are allowed to take their cell phones to the Polls for the purpose sending text messages to report any fraud, violence or election tampering.

Please do not engage in any form of violence at the polling centers. However, if you notice any foul play send your text messages to any of the following numbers:
0816-666-2222
0812-000-6622
0809-666-2221

Vote Right! Vote Wisely!

God bless Nigeria!

Rascals?!

Recently, at the PDP campaign in Oyo State, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was reported to have said:
“We must take over all the States in the Southwest. The zone is too important to be left in the hands of rascals.”

Rascals? That is a very HARSH word. The first thing that came to my mind was maybe Mr. President was quoted out of context. I waited for a rebuttal, but I got none! Did he actually say that? If he did, well the guy fall my hand big time! I suggest that ALL politicians, particularly those vying for elective positions should focus on positive objectives and watch their utterances. They should deter from using abusive or derogating words on their opponents!

God bless Nigeria!

INEC Registration!

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Registration of voters took off with some hiccups on the 15th of  January 2011.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

Prospective voters complained that they spent hours waiting to be registered and this discouraged others who chose to come back at a later date. One man told me when he went to register, the INEC official gave him a number and asked him to come back to following day! The reason for that, according to the man, was that the registration process takes as much as 30 minutes for one person, so in order not to keep people waiting in the sun
 for too long, they are advised to come back the following day.

Another person who attempted registering was informed that the DDC Machines have been rejecting peoples finger prints! This even happened to the former President Obasanjo, whose finger prints where rejected by the DDC machine several times while he was registering. The Senate President, Mr.David Mark also experienced some difficulty in registering.

News have it that in Oyo State, 4 out of the 32 DDC machines needed for the registration exercise were declared missing. When these machines resurfaced, it was discovered that about 2,000 fictitious names had been fed into the machines! How far would these bad elements would go to have their way! Hmmmm!

No matter what, I WILL register, so I can vote. I know my vote will count!

Nigerians, please lets all go out and register. Vote for the Candidates of your choice. Do not sell your votes.

God Bless Nigeria!

Register to Vote!

With the new Election timetable, registration of prospective and eligible voters will commence on the 15th day of January 2011 and end on the 29th day of January 2011. Please go out and register!

Nigerians have been praying for good leaders in all ramifications. Politicians have commenced mapping out various winning strategies. In an attempt to get the support from people, some politicians/aspirants are distributing gift items, such as phone recharge cards, food stuff, money etc.

Meanwhile, the latest news now is that, the ruling PDP is hoping that they would win the gubernatorial elections in Lagos State! This is a statement credited to Mr. President, GEJ.

I do not like it when politicians make such statements. No. This is a MULTI PARTY Nation and not a single party Nation. There are over 60 registered political parties in Nigeria today.

Nigerians, please lets all REGISTER TO VOTE!

Merry Christmas!

NGF Elections!

This weekend, Mr, Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State, informed the general public that Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State is the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF). This (according to the report) became necessary because the Mr. Bukola Saraki intends to contest as President of Nigeria in the 2011 election. Mr. Suswam added that Saraki is distracted and he has not been able tocomment on National issues such as the bomb blast that rocked Abuja during the Independence Celebration on October 1, 2010.

Mr. Suswam said Gbenga Daniel was unanimously elected by consensus by all the members of the group.

Meanwhile, from the reactions of some other Governors who are also members of the NGF, there was no meeting or election properly so called! In his words, Mr. Shekaru of Kano State said “To the best of my knowledge, there was never a meeting where a decision to appoint a new chairman of the forum was reached.” Mr. Shekaru added that the NGF is not entirely a PDP affair.

Another dissenting voice was Commrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. Oshiomole dismissed the claim that any meeting was held where the decision was taken to appoint/elect Mr. Daniel as Chairman. Oshiomole explained that some PDP Governors (not all Governors) met at Mr. Gbenga Daniel’s lodge and these Governors purportedly elected Mr. Daniel as its new Chairman.

Mr. Osiomole however added that a meeting of the NGF would be held on Wednesday November 3, 2010. At this meeting, a new Chairman would be elected.

As a concerned citizen of this great Nation Nigeria, I feel it is rather unfortunate that these Governors would start to bicker amongst themselves. If the NGF cannot conduct a free and fair election to choose a Chairman, how can they be found preaching "free and fair" elections for the Nation in 2011?

Campaign Strategies!

I have heard of Politicians using money to woo electorates to vote. I have also heard of Politicians using food to score cheap campaign points. Now, another strategy has been added to that list - RECHARGE CARDS!

The Oyo State Governor, Mr. C. A. Alao-Akala, who is aspiring to be re-elected as Governor for a second term, has chosen to distribute recharge cards to the people thereby boost his campaign. Recharge Cards! Is that how cheap our votes are? NO WAY! Read more here.

We should all appreciate the fact that OUR VOTES ARE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN MONETARY GIFTS!

Our votes are VERY PRECIOUS! We should guard our votes jealously!

Nigerians, please Registerto vote. Select the right candidate to Vote for. Do not attach any sentiments when voting. Do not vote for a Political Party. Vote for the PERSON you know is right. Finally, Protect your votes!

We have the civic obligation to vote WISELY!

God bless NIGERIA!
NIGERIA o no baje o!

Women in Politics!

The political drums have been rolled out in readiness for the forthcoming election in 2011. All the players are ensuring they are "well placed", with the "right political godfather", in the "right political party".

No sooner than Dr. Goodluck was sworn in as the President, people started telling him not to contest for Presidency because the Presidency was zoned to the North! Please let the guy settle down and serve Nigeria for the short time he has.

Politicians are swapping Parties, moving from their original Party to another. Simply put, the Politicians are making sure they are well aligned! Yet, others are doing last minute make over (as if the people are myopic or blind). Well, time will tell.

It is no longer news that Senator Gbemi Saraki wants to be the first female Governor of Kwara State. There is a website for that. However, the Supreme Council for Shariah in Kwara State recently issued a statement saying it is against Islamic Law for a female to be a leader!

Alhaji Tijani Edun, the state coordinator, said the legacy and Islamic culture will be destroyed if a female should rule the state come 2011. In an attempt to safe guard the Islamic culture, the Supreme Council for Shariah has called on all Muslims in the State to converge at the YIDI praying ground in Ilorin on the Sunday, 30 May 2010 for special prayers to ensure that a woman is not imposed as the next Governor.

As a Senator, representing a senatorial district, I believe she is a leader. As a leader, Gbemisola Saraki registered a foundation - the HAVE FOUNDATION to reach out to the poor in her constituency.

Through the foundation, she has been giving financial support to the needy. She has also purchased tractors with implements to assist rural farmers in land cultivation in her constituency. The empowerment programme has also benefited 33 people. One of them, Mallam Abdulrasaq Hossein Eja got a Mazda 626 for commercial purposes, while the remaining 32 got cash awards ranging from N450,000 to N15,000, hair dryers, grinding machines, sewing and pressing irons as well as motorcycles.

If the Supreme Council for Shariah hold strongly to the Islamic beliefs, why was Gbemisola (a serving Senator) voted to the National House of Assembly in the first place?

My history teacher, taught me about a Muslim female leader and warrior, known and addressed as QUEEN AMINA of Zaria. Hello! Amina of Zaria was a notable female Muslim leader!

I wonder, is the fight/prayer against Gbemi as a woman or against Gbemi as a SARAKI?

Who has seen Yar'Adua?

Although Yar'Adua came in the dark, it is now an open secret that he is in Nigeria. This is further butressed by the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi. In the said statement the Special Adviser said Yar'Adua returned to the Presidential Villa, Abuja early Wednesday morning after being discharged by the team of medical experts overseeing his treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However NO ONE has SEEN the President since his purported dark "arrival". Even the acting President has not set eyes on the President!

After the "medical holiday", the number one citizen returned unceremoniously. Even the Minister for Information was not informed about his arrival. She said she heard of his arrival from CNN. Can you imagine that? With the return of the President, the Country has been thrown into another state of chaos and confusion. What an irony!

The most honourable thing to do (I hope) is for the President to step aside and let his vice continue acting. Anyway, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said in a statement thus:

President Yar'Adua is grateful to the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for competently overseeing the affairs of state in his absence.

The President also wishes to thank the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the entire membership of the National Assembly, the Governors' Forum, and the Judiciary, the Armed Forces and other security agencies, former heads of state and other eminent Nigerians for their roles in maintaining order and stability during his absence.

President Yar'Adua wishes to re-assure all Nigerians that on account of their unceasing prayers and by the special grace of God, his health has greatly improved.

However, while the President completes his recuperation, Vice President Jonathan will continue to oversee the affairs of state.

Nigerians deserve to know better! Nigerians wish Yar'Adua well. Nigerians wish Yar'Adua quick recovery, but that does not mean Nigerians should be taken for granted! The health status of the President MUST be made public. This is a democratic setting for crying out loud! The office of the President is more important than the person elected to that office! Is the President "fit and proper" to rule this great Nation?

This charade MUST stop! Haba! For how long will the Country be in the dark? What is going on? Nigerians deserve to know! Nigerians have the right to know!

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

The return of Mr. President!

Yar'Adua is back!

Just like that! About three months ago, Yar'Adua left the Country for medical treatment (without following due process). Now 93 days after he left the Country, Mr. President returned to the Country, just like that! It was reported that he arrived at the Presidential wing of the air port in Abuja at the wee hours. Hmmmm! Why was his arrival calculated in such a manner? Why did he come in the dark? Why was there an ambulance waiting for him at the airport? Why were journalists prevented from seeing him? Why were the floodlights on the tarmac dimmed? These are questions that should be answered! In answering these questions please let us remember that the office of the president is more important than the person of the president. How long will this hiding game continue?

Well I guess that with the "arrival" of Yar'Adua, Goodluck, the Acting President will "step aside" and leave the office for the President. Right?! Okay! He is expected to inform the Senate in writing of his arrival before Goodluck stops acting. Yeah. That was the content of the Resolution passed to empower Goodluck as Acting President. Well, until the Senate receives that letter, Goodluck will continue to "act".
Meanwhile the Saudi bound team were able to give the Saudi King the "appreciation letter". Like the teams before them, they were unable to see the President! Well, that has been over taken by the recent events. The drama is still unfolding. Nigerian are watching keenly!

Well, welcome back Mr. President! We wish you a speedy recovery!

Another Team to Saudi Arabia as Aondoakaa faces more trouble

The Federal Executive Council has set up a six man panel to visit Yar'Adua in saudi Arabia. Tax payers money in action!

Imagine, they have set up another team to go visit Yar'Adua in Saudi Arabia! This would not be the first team/delegation sent to Saudi Arabia to ascertain Yar'Adua's state of health. Governors, "close aides", delegation from the ruling party PDP, delegation from the House of Representatives and even the Sultan of Sokoto have all been to Saudi Arabia  to see the ailing President. They all returned with the same message - they did not see the President! Members of this new team are:

1. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation - Yayale Ahmed

2. The Minister for Health - Babatunde Oshotimehin

3. Minister for Foreign Affairs - Ojo Maduekwe

4. Minister for Petroleum Resources - Rilwanu Lukman

5. Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation - Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN)

6. Minister for Agriculture -  Sayyadi Abba Ruma

Well, I wish them a safe trip to Saudi Arabia and back. If they return with a different report (ie that they were granted access to the President), then that will be a big plus. Read full story here.

More trouble seem to be brewing for the embattled erstwhile Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa. The purported apology letter he wrote to Prof. Akunyili has been rejected. Akunyili said the apology was not acceptable on the grounds that it was not clear. She wants him to clear all ambiguities contained in the said letter. Please read the full letter here.

PS- I have been trying to add pictures to this post without luck! Is it just me, or its a general problem with blogger? Help please!

Aondoakaa, now Minister for Special Duties!

It is no longer business as usual for Michael Aondoakaa (SAN). The first thing the newly appointed Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan did was to redeploy Aondoakaa. The Acting President moved Aondoakaa from the prestigious office of the Attorney General to the Special Duties Ministry. The new Attorney General and Minister of Justice is Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), who was the Minister of Labour and Productivity.

When the former AG was asked how he felt, he said:  

"Well I am in the government, in the cabinet and I pledge my loyalty to the Vice-President. I'm the Minister of Special Duties." 

He even added that he has no regret for all his past actions because

"every single action I took was in the interest of this country. No attorney-general worth his salt will go to the pages of papers and say there is a vacuum."  

He was (is) very loyal to the ailing President. He even said Yar'Adua can rule the country from anywhere in the world, including a sick bed in a hospital in Saudi Arabia! Yes. Aondoakaa said so. This statement attracted criticisms from Nigerians. Some were even asking if Aondoakaa actually passed through the Law School.

Just last week, Aondoakaa shouted Prof Akunyili down when the later presented a memo to the Executive Council, asking that VP be sworn in as President. He said Akunyili  trying to make herself an angel and a cheap hero. He added that she (Akunyili) should "go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC." The question now is what happened in NAFDAC? Aondoakaa, please tell us what we do not know. Remember, he who assert must prove.

Anyway, in an attempt to right his wrongs, Aondoakaa wrote an apology letter to Akunyili stating amongst other things that he was quoted out of context. At least he had retracted the libelous statement and apologized to Akunyili. I'd say Aondoakaa is playing his politics well. Akunyili please forgive him for he acted under duress. Meanwhile enjoy your new portfolio Mr. Aondoakaa, M. (SAN).

Meanwhile the team delegated by the House of Representatives to visit the ailing President in King Faisal Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were denied access to their President! Well it was worth trying. I believe they knew they won't be granted access to see the ailing President, knowing that other top players (including the Sultan of Sokoto and the PDP National Working Committee) have been denied access to the President. The First Lady, Turai Yar'Adua determines who can see her husband!




I am still trying to get an appropriate title for this home video! Any suggestions?

Long Live Nigeria!
Nigeria o ni baje o!* (Nigeria will not rot! )

Acting President for Nigeria!

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has been empowered by the National Assembly to step into the "shoes" of the ailing AWOLed President, Yar'Adua. The Senate President, Mr. David Mark said the telephone interview aired on the BBC served as the notification needed to allow Mr. Vice act as President. So based on the "telephone conversation" yesterday, the National Assembly passed a resolution empowering Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to assume power as the acting President, pending the return of the ailing President Yar'Adua. The Senate added that the moment they receive a "letter" from Yar'Adua informing the Senate that he (Yar'Adua) is back to the Country, then Goodluck will cease to act as President.

With all due respect to the "law makers", that is NOT the right way to go about it. The Senate has no power to confer power on the Vice-President to act as President! The applicable Latin maxim here is nemo dat qui non habet. Simply put, this phrase means "he who has not cannot give". That is, you cannot give what you do not have.

The Law is very clear on that. The 1999 Constitution is very explicit. Section 144 of the Constitution is to the effect that the President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office on the following grounds:
1) A declaration is passed by the Federal Executive Council (which is made up of all ministers, who incidentally were appointed by the President) stating that the President or Vice-President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office.

2) After this declaration is passed, it has to be verified by a medical panel comprising of 5 medical practitioners, appointed by the Senate President. The personal physician of the President shall be a member of the medical panel.

Sections 144 (2)&(3) state thus:
(2) Where the medical panel certifies in the report that in its opinion the President or Vice-President is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, a notice thereof signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation.

(3) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office as from the date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

Now, that is the LAW! The National Assembly, in my opinion, erred in law by empowering the VP with the Presidential powers.

The BBC conversation relied on by the National Assembly IS NOT the requirement as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. That conversation does not meet the requirement as set out in section 145 of the Constitution.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

73 days and still counting . . .

Fact: The President is ill.
Fact: The President has been away for 73 days today.
Fact: Most Ministers have not "spoken" to the President.
Fact: Nigerians are worried about the prolonged silence surrounding the prolonged absence of the President.
Mr. President is still at large!

Some days ago, a Federal High Court Judge, in fact, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Dan Abutu, gave the Federal Executive Council a 14 day ultimatum to decide whether the President was still capable of ruling the Nation or not. As a result of that Court Order, on the 27th of January, the Executive Council unanimously passed a resolution that only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua could determine whether he is fit to remain in office.

It is a known fact that Nigeria has an ill President. It is also a known fact that Nigerians are praying for Yar'Adua to get well FAST! But for crying out loud, how long can we stay without a President in Office. Yes, the various Ministers and other politically minded individuals are currently manning the affairs of the Nation, but for how long?

For the records, when this guy, Mr. President, was Governor of Katsina State, news had it that he would go AWOL for months and when he does resurface, it's business as usual. Is that the same thing happening now? There had been so many rumours surrounding his disappearance from office. Some say he is dead. Some say he is brain damaged. Suddenly, there was a televised telephone conversation between Yar'Adua and a BBC correspondent. Sincerely, when I heard the shaky voice on BBC, I said thank God Yar'Adua is still alive. . . at least that will douse the rumours going on! I was so relieved that at least the nation will not be thrown into a state of chaos. Even with that, people were not still convinced. There was a general doubt that the voice was not Yar'Adua's. Some even said, it was a technological trick!

Now it is exactly 73 days since the President travelled AWOLed to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. The Federal Executive Council still believes he is fit and proper to continue as President! Right now, the President can not carry out his duties as a President, therefore he is INCAPACITATED. Although the Executive Council has not been confirmed that he is “permanently incapacitated”, how long would a Nation should stay without its President? Our leaders are simply playing politics with us. No one is speaking out.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has made adequate provisions on steps to follow when the President is unable to perform his duties as President. Sections 144, 145 and 146 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides thus:

144. (1) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office, if -
(a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all the members of the executive council of the Federation it is declared that the President or Vice-President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and
(b) the declaration is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) Where the medical panel certifies in the report that in its opinion the President or Vice-President is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, a notice thereof signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation.

(3) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office as from the date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

(4) the medical panel to which this section relates shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and shall comprise five medical practitioners in Nigeria:-
(a) one of whom shall be the personal physician of the holder of the office concerned; and

(b) four other medical practitioners who have, in the opinion of the President of the Senate, attained a high degree of eminence in the field of medicine relative to the nature of the examination to be conducted in accordance with the foregoing provisions.

(5) In this section, the reference to "executive council of the Federation" is a reference to the body of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, howsoever called, established by the President and charged with such responsibilities for the functions of government as the President may direct.

145. Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.

146. (1) The Vice-President shall hold the office of President if the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or the removal of the President from office for any other reason in accordance with section 143 of this Constitution.

(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section during a period when the office of Vice-President is also vacant, the President of the Senate shall hold the office of President for a period of not more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new President, who shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.

(3) Where the office of Vice-President becomes vacant:-
(a) by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with section 143 or 144 of this Constitution;

(b) by his assumption of the office of President in accordance with subsection (1) of this section; or

(c) for any other reason,

the President shall nominate and, with the approval of each House of the National Assembly, appoint a new Vice-President.

Yar'Adua is an "advocate" of the "rule of law". Why can't the Law be respected now that it directly concerns him? When he was sworn into office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Yar'Adua swore to an oath of allegiance to obey the letters and the spirit of the 1999 Constitution without fear or favour and to also promote peace and accord in Nigeria.

The first option under Section 144 of the Constitution has been explored, what about the second option? The Senate President should set up a medical panel in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution to verify the "declaration" of the Executive Council.

The latest development now is that the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili has finally spoken. The news has it that Akunyili submitted a memo to the Executive Council to "prevail on Yar'Adua to hand over to the Vice-President." Hmmmmm! With this development, Akunyili has become the "lone voice" in the Federal Executive Council and as a result, she was shouted down by the pro-Yar'Adua Ministers! What a way to advocate freedom of speech in a democratic setting!

In addition, the "media" owners have given an ultimatum to the President to take "the honourable path and spare the nation the on-going political confusion."

As for now, we’ll continue to do “sidon look”, when the home video finish playing, we’ll give credits where necessary!

Nigeria we hail thee! Long live the Federal republic of Nigeria!

January 27, 2002 - Commemorating the victims

It was a beautiful Sunday in January 2002.  We just returned from Church. I had bearing entered my room when there was a sudden vibration. I rushed out and I saw hubby standing in the sitting room with shock all over his face! "What was that?" I asked. He replied, "I don't know." Some minutes later, another I felt another vibration and this time I asked hubby "Is this an earthquake? Abeg o!"

These vibrations were so serious that louvres were rattling and other items in the house were moving! That was why I thought it was an earthquake. There were also thunderous sounds following the vibrations. Somewhere in between all these, I saw the breaking news on television that the explosions and vibrations were as a result of bomb exploding in the armoury in Ikeja Military Cantonment! What!!!!

I did not know the extent of the damage and havoc until I went to work the next day. My office was somewhere on the Island. The whole office was scattered as if it was burgled. Files were all over the floor; tables upturned...

Most of that day was spent talking about the incident...

The news had it that somany lives were lost as a result of stampeding. Some people were looking for their loved ones. It was such a dark period in the city of Lagos.

I stopped by at my Mum's place in Isolo on my way home after work. There were large cracks on the walls and most of her dishes were broken. I got more tales about the whole incident. I was informed that people ran out of the houses out of fear and panic. Not knowing what was happenning. She said, thankfully, she waited, tried to understand before taking any action. She added that a friend of hers who lives in Ajao Estate jumped from a balcony and broke her leg in the process. My Mum was still in shock. I encouraged her to calm down and rest. My brother's gist was different. He said he was outside with some friends when the whole thing started. He saw people running down the street in panic and like a typical Lagosian, he was about to run as well. Fortunately, a neighbour called him back and told him to stay within the compound. He said the neighbour told him not to panic.

The most shocking news was that as a result of the panic and stampede, several people, including children, women and men were drowned in the Oke-Afa Canal! Some bodies have been claimed but some were not claimed. The unclaimed bodies were buried in a mass grave by the canal. A cenotaph was later erected at the mass grave for the unclaimed bodies. Year after year, the Lagos State Government set out some few hours to lay wreaths at the cenotaph in Oke-Afa.

It is exactly 8 years after that black Sunday in Lagos. The activities around that site for the past one week has got me thinking. The roads were patched and padded. The cenotaph now wears a new look. Enough beautification has taken place there. I even hear the Governor of  Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola will be on ground to give a befitting commemoration for the people buried at there.
Let us say prayers for the families that lost their loved ones on that ill fated day - Sunday 27, January 2002.

Much Ado About Yar'Adua!

Citizen A: Did you hear that Yar'Adua spoke to a foreign media yesterday?

Dee: Yes. I listened to the conversation as played on BBC yesterday morning. His voice was dull and shaky.

Citizen A: How are you sure that call was made by Yar'Adua himself? You know say these oyinbo people can do and undo!

Dee: Hmmm!

Citizen A: Yes O! Remember that there was news that said Yar'Adua is brain damaged!

Dee: Yes. I guess he chose to prove them wrong! Someone with a damaged brain can not talk. Or can they talk?

Citizen A: I no know o! But sha, I am not happy that he chose to talk to a foreign media house. Haba! Why did he not talk to NTA, VON or even Channels? It shows that he (Yar'Adua) has no regard for us. He does not believe in us.

Dee: Why are you talking as if you are not a Nigerian. No media house in Nigeria was granted audience in the first place! Even if they were granted audience, they will tread with "extra" caution so as to avoid been sealed!

Citizen A: The whole thin tire me jo!

Dee: Me too I tire! But wait o. Should we be bothered on his choice of media house? I do not care how he breaks the silence, the only thing I care about is for Peace to reign in Nigeria. You know his absence has generated a lot of concerns. It is not news that the guy has serious health challenges. You know what? As an individual, I pity him. Infact I feel sorry for his wife right now. She must stay strong.

Citizen A: I hear that your colleagues have sued him.

Dee: Wrong! My "colleagues" instituted an action in Court to compel the President to do the needful. The Lawyers are seeking an injunction to compel the President to hand over to Jonathan. As it is now, Jonathan CAN NOT ACT!

Citizen A: Okay! So that is it. So what next?

Now let me do a proper post on this issue.

For the past 50 days plus, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been AWOL. Yes. AWOL because due process was not followed before the President left the Country for "medical treatment".

For the first FORTY days while the President was away, the main question the average Nigerian asked was where is Yar'Adua? Some politicians were clamouring for the "ailing" President to resign. Others said the Vice President can not act in his place because there was no such instruction for the VP to act upon. True.

There were SEVERAL rumours surrounding the disapperance or should I say AWOLness of the President. Some quarters said he was on a life support machine. Others said he was brain damaged. Yet some others said he was dead! Infact the American Chronicle posted on the web that Yar'Adua died as far back as the 10th of December 2009! Infact, the rumour that he was dead generated a lot of "side" talks. Thankfully, the former Governor of Abia State, Oji Uzor Kalu told the Guardian newspaper that he spoke with the President on the 31st of December 2009. Meaning, he could not have been dead!

The suspense continued and then, bam! The long silence was finally "broken" by the BBC who reported that the President spoke with a BBC reporter (I guess to prove that his brain was still intact). After the telephone conversation, the song took a new turn! Why did he choose to talk to a foreign media? Why not the Nigerian Television Authority or any other local media group?

ISSUES
1. Whether it was right (constitutionally or morally) for the President to leave the Country for such a long period without following due process?

2. Whether it ws right (constitutionally or morally) for the President to talk to BBC and not the Nigerian media?

MY VIEW
As a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the most paramount thing on my mind is the peace and stability of the Nation. At least, we now know he is ALIVE! Whether or not he is on life support! I suggest we deal with him when he returns. He will face the music then.

As a Legal Practitioner, I have a very different opinion on this matter. The RULE OF LAW MUST PREVAIL! Let us follow the provisions of the Constitution as spelt out in Sections 144 and 145.

Long live Nigeria!

Umar Musa Yar'Adua is Alive!

Yes! At least that is the conclusion from the telephone interview President MusaYar'Adua had with a BBC correspondent. He is not "dead".

I heard his voice (though shaky) on the BBC news some hours ago. The President actually spoke with a BBC correspondent. Amongst other things, he thanked Nigerians for their prayers and assured Nigerians that he will be back as soon as his doctors discharge him.

Read more here.

Long live Nigeria!

Still on Yar'Adua's Health

Source BBC.CO.UK

I just read here that Yar'adua has some problem with his brain! I just hope it is not true.

Below is an excerpt from the publication on 234next.com.

“President Umaru Yar'Adua is seriously brain damaged, is not able to recognise anyone, including his wife Turai, and can no longer perform the functions of the office of the president, according to multiple sources who have spoken to NEXT on Sunday.

But this fact, which has left a nation of 150 million people rudderless and its government in disarray, is being concealed from the public through an elaborate scam orchestrated directly and energetically by the First Lady.

Turai Yar'Adua has barred all but two security and one civilian aide, and a legislator from having access to the president in a two-tier power loop of which she is the organising principal. The inner core consists of the president's chief security officer, Mohammed Tilde, and his military ADC, Mustapha Onoedieva; an infantry colonel from Edo State. Through Mrs. Yar'Adua, this small knot works with Shehu Inuwa Imam, a member of the House of Representatives from Katsina State who is the president's childhood friend; Tanimu Yakubu, the president's chief economic adviser; and Sayyadi Abba Ruma, the agriculture minister. She is also aided by Inuwa Baba, the senior private adviser to the president on protocol matters.

Mr. Baba is an old Yar'Adua family friend, so loyal that he once got into prison uniform to stay behind bars with Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, the elder brother of the current president. who died in Abacha's gulag in 1999.

The group has blocked all direct access to the rapidly ailing president, said sources in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region and in Europe and the US.

Despite several trips to Saudi Arabia, no other Nigerian government official, including the president's principal private secretary, ministers, and governors, has succeeded in seeing the president, who vanished from our country 50 days ago and has not been heard from since.

Grand deception

The people working frantically to keep up this ruse, including Mr. Yakubu, have also gone to great lengths to deceive the public, by claiming they have spoken to a president who is unable to speak and has lost all powers of cognition.

In fact, we can confirm that senior government officials lied when they claimed that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who is next in line to succeed Mr. Yar'Adua, has spoken directly to the president.

Although Mr. Jonathan subsequently went along with the charade, he has confided in several people in recent days that he did not speak to the president at all, according to informed sources. "He is trying not to create any friction because he knows he is about to become the next president," one source told our reporters.”

Please click here to read more.

After reading this article all I could ask was - "HOW DID 234NEXT.COM GET THIS INFORMATION CONSIDERING THAT ONLY 3 PEOPLE WERE PRIVY TO THE HEALTH CONDITION OF THE PRESIDENT AS STATED IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE??

I believe in prayers . . . I believe Nigerians are praying for the good health of President Yar'Adua . . .

God help us!

Yar'adua's Health

Well, it is a known fact that the Nigerian President was flown out of the Country on the 23rd day of November 2009 for medical treatment. His location was not disclosed. The ailment was also not known to the general public as at then. A few days after, his spokesman released a press statement that the President was in Saudi Arabia receiving treatment for a heart condition. According to the BBC report, Mr. President has acute pericarditis, otherwise known as inflammation of the lining around the heart.

I am not a medical practitioner, but when I googled for more information and I found that Pericarditis, is inflammation of the pericardium. The pericardium is the sac which surrounds and protects the heart. The heart, as we all know is a vital organ in the human body which pumps blood to other parts of the body.

I read here that complications arising from pericarditis can be life threatening and require immediate treatment.

The vacum created by the absence of the President has been generating a lot of criticism and concern. Right now there are three law suits in Court on this vacum created by the prolonged absence of the President. Read more here.

The news now is that the President is responding well to treatment. That is good considering the various crisis on ground. The Nigerian President needs prayers. At least for the peace and stability of the Nation. Let us all pray for the President to recover and resume is duties.

Long Live Nigeria!