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! )