Hand power to Vice-President, Senate tells Yar'Adua

The Senate today resolved, in a landmark move, that sickly Nigerian leader, Umary Yar’Adua, should hand over power to his deputy by transmitting a letter to the upper house without delay. The resolution was swiftly commended by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), which commended the Senate for coming to patriotic and democratic judgment in the resolution of the unwarranted constitutional crisis imposed by President Umaru Musa Yaradua and his handlers. It further called on the House of Representatives to follow suit. The Senate, which is dominated by Yar'Adua's People's Democratic Party, had been meeting in last 48 hours in the effort to come to a resolution. The issue has generally generally polarized and paralyzed the upper chamber. The Conference said in a statement, signed by Osita Okechukwu, its National Publicity Secretary, "CNPP has maintained that it is incongruous, unpatriotic and undemocratic for President Yaradua and his handlers to subordinate constitutional order under personal survival, in other words the survival of our fledgling democracy under self glorification and self service." It commended the Senate for appreciating that the power vacuum created by the absence of the Commander-in-Chief has unleashed unintended consequencies on Nigerians, thence sliding our democracy to quasi-dictatorship, rubbishing our image abroad and hindering peace, order and good governace. "We had wondered on what is wrong for a president availing himself of section 145 of the constitution which in all intents and purposes is the safety-net and common ground in the midst - 143,144 and 146." It further asked "the handlers of Mr President and the pliable Federal Executive Council to place the interest of the corporative existence of Nigeria above petty and selfish concerns."

Is this the kind of president in Jonathan Goodluck?

Dear Editor Sir: It is unfortunate and looks like if the Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan transmutes to President of Nigeria, through the expected constitutional means, Nigeria may not fare better either. Judging from his utterances then good governance, transparency and rule of law in Nigeria have been thrown to the dogs.

On Friday December 11, 2009, many newspapers were awash with Vice-President’s unguarded statements concerning the situation with future Presidential elections and the Anambra 2010 gubernatorial election. Jonathan and the PDP hierarchy at their Party’s NEC meeting on November 10, 2009 showcased their stocks-in-trade, which are disobedience to rule of the law, arrogance and win-by-rigging posture.

Hear the Vice-President: “If you conduct presidential elections 100 times and bring angels from the moon to conduct them, PDP will still win”. He spoke as if he is God. Then hear the PDP NEC members: “INEC cannot stop us in Anambra; Soludo remains our candidate for Anambra 2010”. Though there are few exceptions like Governor Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and a PDP BoT member Chief Don Etiebet who have openly canvassed for APGA Peter Obi against their own, on the forthcoming Anambra’s 2010 gubernatorial election.

The Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and that of the PDP NEC members made mince meat to the Nigeria’s ‘rebranding’ project. One thing is that PDP has set out to rig any future elections; but it looks very obvious that citizens now know their rights and would in subsequent elections insist that their votes count. The present ruling party should not throw mud at the masses and expect them not to be on their guard. PDP members should start to learn how to allow transparency in all things that involve all Nigerians; they can continue to do otherwise within their party as is the case presently.

Cosmos Erhabor,

Mississippi Street,

Maitama-Abuja.