Almost a week after a Federal High Court judge directed Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council to give a concrete affirmation that Nigeria’s ailing leader, Umaru Yar’adua was capable of performing his functions as “President”, his Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, this afternoon organized a bizarre and combative press briefing where he claimed that the cabinet has confirmed the bedridden Yar’Adua is in no way incapacitated, and is passed “fit” to continue as president. The AGF provided no evidence to the horde of journalists who asked him questions about how he and members of the FEC arrived at the decision. Mr. Aondoakaa merely stuck to the refrain that Yar’Adua was capable of performing his functions as president. Yar’Adua was hurriedly evacuated from Nigeria on November 23, 2009, after his health failed considerably. Since his departure, no one has seen him in person except, reportedly, his wife and two close aides. Before his departure, Yar’Adua characteristically did not hand over power to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, as mandated by the constitution.
