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"Gathering clouds": Media stakeholders call on National Assembly to impeach Yar'Adua

February 2, 2010

Mass media stakeholders have called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Umaru Yar'Adua if, within seven days, he does not hand power over to his deputy, or resign. In a communique following their meeting in Lagos on Monday, the media stakeholders said they were "appalled by the recklessness and unpatriotic politicization of the ill health of the President and the dance towards darkness" by Nigerian leaders.

Mass media stakeholders have called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Umaru Yar'Adua if, within seven days, he does not hand power over to his deputy, or resign. In a communique following their meeting in Lagos on Monday, the media stakeholders said they were "appalled by the recklessness and unpatriotic politicization of the ill health of the President and the dance towards darkness" by Nigerian leaders.
They noted the various efforts of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aaodoakaa, "to secure rulership in absentsia for  Yar’Adua even when the President had admitted in a BBC interview that his health challenges had temporarily incapacitated him and prevented him from performing the duties of his office."  In that light, they described as "frustrating and insulting" the decision of the legislature to commit scarce public funds to visit Saudi Arabia to see Yar'Adua.

The communique was signed by several mass media heavyweights.  Conspicuously missing from the list, however, was The Guardian, which bills itself "the flagship of the Nigerian press," ThisDay, and NewsWatch.

The full text of the communique is as follows:

COMMUNIQUE  ON THE STATE OF THE NATION BY MEDIA STAKEHOLDERS.

Media stakeholders ,  who are appalled by the recklessness and
unpatriotic politicization of the ill health of the President and the
dance towards darkness  by our leaders,  met in Lagos on Monday
February 1, 2010 to review our Rule of Law regime, Constitutionality
and  fortune of our democracy.
Upon a careful review of the dangers posed to our nation  by the
gathering clouds in the land occasioned by disregard for the spirit of
our Constitution, the stakeholders  resolved as follows:
1.      That President Umaru Yar’Adua is human and susceptible  to health
challenges like every one else.
2.      That President Yar’Adua is no ordinary Nigerian. In any case, his
health challenge is being tackled with national resource.
3.      That President 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 concord in Nigeria.
4.       That the media stakeholders note the various efforts of the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Michael Kasee Aaodoakaa, SAN to secure rulership in absentsia for
President Yar’Adua even when the President had admitted in a BBC
interview that his health challenges had temporarily incapacitated him
and prevented him from performing the duties of his office.
5.      That it is therefore frustrating and insulting that members of the
National Assembly shall be committing very scarce public funds to a
“goodwill  visit” to the President in Saudi Arabia.
6.      The stakeholders commend the valiant intervention by former Heads
of state and other eminent statesmen that President Yar’Adua  should
show regard for the spirit of our Constitution which foresaw our kind
of situation.
7.      Therefore, because President Umaru YAr’Adua has been in Saudi
Arabia for medical treatment for more than 70 days;  leaving more than
150million Nigerians rudderless , thereby unable to perform his duties
as Head of State,  Chief Executive of this  Federation and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria  and has not been
seen in public since then, the stakeholders hereby demand that the
President   cede power to his deputy or resign within seven days. If
he fails to take these obvious constitutional steps to stabilize the
polity and keep away undemocratic forces  from the political space,
the National Assembly should commence impeachment proceedings against
the President for endangering the country.

Signed on behalf of Media stakeholders:

Sam Amuka (Vanguard)
Chief Ajibola Ogunsola (Punch)
Prince Tony Momoh
Sam Nda-Isiah (Leadership)
Raymond Alegho Dokpesi (Daar Communication)
Yaya Abubakar mni
Lade Bonuola (Nigerian COMPASS)
Tony Onyima The SUN
Babafemi Ojudu The News Magazine
Comfort Obi The Source Magazine
Frank Aigbogun BusinessDay
Dr. Tom Adaba Trim Media
Haj Alade Odunewu
Ben Egbuna mni Niche Media Ltd
Ugo Onuoha (Champion)
Rufai Ibrahim (Peoples Daily)
Olubunmi Windapo MITV/Star FM
Nosa Igiebor TELL
Osa Sonny Adun DBN Television
Gbenga Omotoso The Nation
Gbenga Adefaye Vanguard
Mideno Bayagbon Vanguard

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