February 17, 2010
Saharareporters has learned that a bloody coup d'etat in is progress in the Republic of Niger where the president, Mamadou Tanja, extended his tenure in office last year into a third term, in defiance of public opinion. In the past hour, reports out of Niamey indicate Tanja may have fallen into the hands of dissidents.
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Predictably, the coup d'etat information is creating panic in Nigeria where a crisis resulting from the refusal to abide by the constitution of Nigeria's sickly leader, Umaru Yar'Adua. Now out of the country on a "medical emergency" for nearly three months, Yar'Adua's conduct has created a full blown political crisis instigated by his loyalists, a group led by his ambitious and greedy wife, Hajia Turai Yar'Adua.
Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President to Yar'adua, who was made "Acting President" by a resolution of the National Assembly last week, remains under threat from "insurgents" loyal to Yar'Adua. Jonathan is currently meeting with the outgoing ECOWAS Secreytary, Ibn Chambas, to work out appropriate response to the Nigerien coup d'etat.
As Saharareporters has consistently reported, the diehard cronies of Yar'Adua have already put in place military officers to strike as soon as the circumstances become viable for a military take-over.
According to military intelligence in Nigeria, the groups have tried to strike twice, first on December 31st 2009, and on January 15, 2010, but for the advice they kept getting that the Nigerian people are not going to be receptive a coup d'etat and also that a coup will inevitably lead to the break-up of Nigeria. The group has reportedly continued its search for an army general from the Niger Delta region to be the face of the putsch.
Yesterday, the Federal Executive Council set a up delegation to visit Yar'Adua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to ascertain his state of health, but reports this morning indicate that the team may have fallen apart as one of the delegates, Rilwan Lukman, Yar'Adua's Minister of Petroleum Resources, has pulled out of the delegation after receiving threats from unnamed Yar'Adua associates. The team is billed to leave Nigeria for Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
The situation in Niger is of significant interest in Nigeria because it is both a geographical and a political neighbour. In 2006, Nigeria's present Olusegun Obasanjo tried assorted manoeuvres to try to obtain a third term in office. Many Nigerians blame him for the crisis in Nigeria saying he foisted Yar'Adua, who is viewed as "damaged goods" on the country to punish the people for objecting to his political ambitions.
On account of the involvement of the military in governance, Niger and Guinea are currently suspended from the Economic Council of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the leadership of which Goodluck Jonathan assumed a few days ago.
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Predictably, the coup d'etat information is creating panic in Nigeria where a crisis resulting from the refusal to abide by the constitution of Nigeria's sickly leader, Umaru Yar'Adua. Now out of the country on a "medical emergency" for nearly three months, Yar'Adua's conduct has created a full blown political crisis instigated by his loyalists, a group led by his ambitious and greedy wife, Hajia Turai Yar'Adua.
Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President to Yar'adua, who was made "Acting President" by a resolution of the National Assembly last week, remains under threat from "insurgents" loyal to Yar'Adua. Jonathan is currently meeting with the outgoing ECOWAS Secreytary, Ibn Chambas, to work out appropriate response to the Nigerien coup d'etat.
As Saharareporters has consistently reported, the diehard cronies of Yar'Adua have already put in place military officers to strike as soon as the circumstances become viable for a military take-over.
According to military intelligence in Nigeria, the groups have tried to strike twice, first on December 31st 2009, and on January 15, 2010, but for the advice they kept getting that the Nigerian people are not going to be receptive a coup d'etat and also that a coup will inevitably lead to the break-up of Nigeria. The group has reportedly continued its search for an army general from the Niger Delta region to be the face of the putsch.
Yesterday, the Federal Executive Council set a up delegation to visit Yar'Adua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to ascertain his state of health, but reports this morning indicate that the team may have fallen apart as one of the delegates, Rilwan Lukman, Yar'Adua's Minister of Petroleum Resources, has pulled out of the delegation after receiving threats from unnamed Yar'Adua associates. The team is billed to leave Nigeria for Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
The situation in Niger is of significant interest in Nigeria because it is both a geographical and a political neighbour. In 2006, Nigeria's present Olusegun Obasanjo tried assorted manoeuvres to try to obtain a third term in office. Many Nigerians blame him for the crisis in Nigeria saying he foisted Yar'Adua, who is viewed as "damaged goods" on the country to punish the people for objecting to his political ambitions.
On account of the involvement of the military in governance, Niger and Guinea are currently suspended from the Economic Council of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the leadership of which Goodluck Jonathan assumed a few days ago.
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