February 16, 2010
More facts have emerged regarding today's resolution by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its weekly meeting to send a six-man delegation to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in search of Nigeria’s sickly leader, Umaru Yar’Adua. According to a minister who did not want to be named, the meeting began with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, pleading with his colleagues that the crisis of Yar'Adua's absence was getting out of hand and that the body should at least find out for itself how he is faring in Saudi Arabia.
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But not sooner had Maduekwe ended his plea than the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ahmed Yayale, dropped a bombshell on the council–in-session to the effect that the FEC should invoke the relevant section of the constitution--Section 144--and declare the missing leader incapacitated so that Nigeria could move forward. He stressed that there was no need to keep deceiving Nigerians any further.
According to our source, that unexpected statement threw the council meeting into a deep quiet for a while as the ministers exchanged glances. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adamu Aliero, then raised a point of order. Upon being recognized to speak, he said that he had been informed last night that the “president”, referring to Yar’Adua, had started climbing stairs up and down--that is, exercising. His statement drew awkward laughter in the chambers.
The Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aishatu Dukku, also claimed that she spoke with YAr’adua’s wife, Turai, who told her that Yar'Adua was exercising for 25 minutes daily. This also drew further subdued laughter, as according to our source, none of the ministers considers Yar'Adua at his "healthiest" capable of 25 minutes of exercise daily.
The council then sought further comments on the proposal by the SGF for Yar’Adua to be declared incapacitated, our source said. At that point, the chambers was largely divided into North and South: while most ministers from the geographical South of Nigeria expressed support for declaring Yar’Adua incapacitated in line with the proposal by a Northerner, Ahmed Yayale, the ministers from the North, mostly Yar’Adua cronies from his home state of Katsina and Kano, vehemently opposed the idea.
Following a short break, which was necessary as things had become rowdy, it was quickly decided that a delegation be sent to Jeddah to visit Yar’adua and ascertain his state of health.
It is not clear when the delegation will leave on the mission, but one source told Saharareporters it could be no later than tomorrow, Thursday, so that it could return in time for the next Executive Council meeting next week.
Saharareporters has learnt that only 11 individuals are currently holding the entire nation to ransom regarding Yar’Adua's health. They are:
* "First Lady" Hajia Turai Yar’Adua;
* James Ibori, the embattled former governor of Delta State;
* Michael Aondoakaa, the new Minister for Special Duties;
* Sayyad Abba Ruma, the Minister for Agriculture;
* Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, Yar’Adua’s Chief Economic Adviser and Yar’Adua bagman;
* Adamu Aliero, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory;
* Shehu Inuwa Imam, a member of the House of Representatives;
* Aliyu Tilde, Yar’Adua’s Chief Security Officer; and
* Ibrahim Kazaure, a new Minister of Labour.
Others involved are Ibrahim Shema, the governor of Katsina State, and Isah Yuguda, his Bauchi State counterpart who is also Yar’Adua’s son-in-law.
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But not sooner had Maduekwe ended his plea than the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ahmed Yayale, dropped a bombshell on the council–in-session to the effect that the FEC should invoke the relevant section of the constitution--Section 144--and declare the missing leader incapacitated so that Nigeria could move forward. He stressed that there was no need to keep deceiving Nigerians any further.
According to our source, that unexpected statement threw the council meeting into a deep quiet for a while as the ministers exchanged glances. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adamu Aliero, then raised a point of order. Upon being recognized to speak, he said that he had been informed last night that the “president”, referring to Yar’Adua, had started climbing stairs up and down--that is, exercising. His statement drew awkward laughter in the chambers.
The Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aishatu Dukku, also claimed that she spoke with YAr’adua’s wife, Turai, who told her that Yar'Adua was exercising for 25 minutes daily. This also drew further subdued laughter, as according to our source, none of the ministers considers Yar'Adua at his "healthiest" capable of 25 minutes of exercise daily.
The council then sought further comments on the proposal by the SGF for Yar’Adua to be declared incapacitated, our source said. At that point, the chambers was largely divided into North and South: while most ministers from the geographical South of Nigeria expressed support for declaring Yar’Adua incapacitated in line with the proposal by a Northerner, Ahmed Yayale, the ministers from the North, mostly Yar’Adua cronies from his home state of Katsina and Kano, vehemently opposed the idea.
Following a short break, which was necessary as things had become rowdy, it was quickly decided that a delegation be sent to Jeddah to visit Yar’adua and ascertain his state of health.
It is not clear when the delegation will leave on the mission, but one source told Saharareporters it could be no later than tomorrow, Thursday, so that it could return in time for the next Executive Council meeting next week.
Saharareporters has learnt that only 11 individuals are currently holding the entire nation to ransom regarding Yar’Adua's health. They are:
* "First Lady" Hajia Turai Yar’Adua;
* James Ibori, the embattled former governor of Delta State;
* Michael Aondoakaa, the new Minister for Special Duties;
* Sayyad Abba Ruma, the Minister for Agriculture;
* Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, Yar’Adua’s Chief Economic Adviser and Yar’Adua bagman;
* Adamu Aliero, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory;
* Shehu Inuwa Imam, a member of the House of Representatives;
* Aliyu Tilde, Yar’Adua’s Chief Security Officer; and
* Ibrahim Kazaure, a new Minister of Labour.
Others involved are Ibrahim Shema, the governor of Katsina State, and Isah Yuguda, his Bauchi State counterpart who is also Yar’Adua’s son-in-law.
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