Eminent Nigerians today in a press statement asked Umaru Yar’Adua to “immediately and unconditionally hand over to the Vice-President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to complete the current term of office.” As Acting President, said the 55 signatories who emanate from all over Nigeria, Jonathan should then conduct the next general elections on the basis of the report of the electoral reform committee headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais.
In the statement, which was made public only a short while ago, the concerned Nigerians offered Yar’Adua the option of resigning his office immediately, arguing that his poor health “has created a dangerous situation whereby no one is in charge of the affairs of the State contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.”
On the other hand, they said that if Yar’Adua is confident of his current health, he should “request the Federal Executive Council to pass a resolution pursuant to Section 144 (1) of the Constitution to the effect that the President appears incapable of discharging the functions of his office.”
They said such an “honorable step” would enable the Senate President to appoint a Medical Panel to confirm the fitness or otherwise of Yar’Adua to continue in office.”
Sympathizing with Yar’Adua’s condition, the signatories said his health should be given priority attention, but stressed that the need to provide effective governance for this nation of over 150 million people cannot be compromised.
