Now that the presidency have come clean with the revelation that President Yar’Adua had been hospitalised for acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart which can restrict normal beating of the heart. It is premature to call for the immediate resignation of Yar’adua without ascertaining the actual state of his health. To force Yar’adua to resign under the present circumstances is
premature (that does not mean others have no right to take a different position as their call for his resignation may yet bear fruit in a way you have not imagined).
In my view, the correct thing would be for a call that Goodluck act as president as envisaged by the constitution. The Nigerian constitution does not say a sick president should resign; NO.
But the authors of that constitution understand quite clearly that a president might get sick and so provided for a mechanism to ensure that the wheels of government are not grounded in such a situation.In view of the fact that Yar’adua is presently on unofficial sick leave, Nigerians should rather demand that President Yar’adua do the right thing and properly hand over to his vice, Jonathan Goodluck in harmony with Section 145 of Nigerian Constitution.
145. Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.
Otherwise the first step should be to force the door of access open so that eminent Nigerians could see and talk to Yar’adua.There is absolutely no need to overheat the polity. the power structure in Nigeria is so complex and the political nerve so set on tinderbox that no sane Nigerian would wish for a match-besides-fuel situation of President Yar’adua being either forced from office or dying in office.
It is more pragmatic for those asking Yar’adua to resign or those secretly wishing to give up to pray that Yar’adua recover well enough to continue in office and at least serve out his remaining time in office.
Thereafter a proper election should be conducted in harmony with Uwais election reform report.
The problem in Nigeria is the wanton disregard for the rule of law and a nauseating and arrogant disdain for the view and well-being of the ordinary Nigerian.
It is this problem that should be addressed.
Absence of proper information Is the Main cause of the controversy surrounding President Umaru Yar’adua’s health. The country should be regularly updated about the President’s health.
If Yar’adua refuses to hand over after being away from the seat of power for two weeks without a proper hand over to his deputy…then the governors forum, the FEC, the NASS, NLC, STUDENTS, everyone should sanction the president for such disdainful and arrogant attitude.
Let’s do First things first…let’s respect the constitution, no matter how flawed it is!!!
Daniel Elombah
Publisher: www.elombah.com
(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)