“We could not see Yar’adua, but he is fine, and we are happy. In fact Turai told us they drank kunu together”.
Those were the exact words of the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru Mohammed yesterday.
Bello was in the gang of National Working Committee of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP that travelled with the National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor to see ailing President Umaru Yar’adua. They were lodged at the prestigious and expansive Ground Hotel, Jeddah near King Abdullah Abdul Aziz’s Palace.
Six days after they left the country for Saudi Arabia however, they could not see Yar’adua as the Iron Lady, Turai Yar’adua blocked their path.
But speaking with Vanguard on phone yesterday, the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru Mohammed who noted that President Yar’Adua was recuperating and would soon be discharged following the discussions they had with Turai, said: “We saw the wife, the doctor and we are very happy with what we heard. We are very sure that President Yar’Adua will return home as soon as the doctor has finished attending to him, he is very fine and we are happy.”
Are you laughing?
The PDP Chairman, Prince Ogbulafor did not find it funny! So what did he do?
Whether out of anger or desperation (Enyimba was not told which), he abandoned his deputy, Bello Haliru Mohammed and two other colleagues of the NWC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and jetted off to India for another business of his.
It was gathered that since the NWC members arrived Jeddah, Friday morning, they only spoke with the First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua and the doctor without having access to the President who has acute pericarditis.
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Chairman, Bello Haliru Mohammed and the Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo, were billed to return to the country on Sunday, but at the time of this report, they were still in Jeddah, apparently waiting in futility to see if they can somehow dribble past Turai to meet the President.
Enyimba learnt they have a secret plan with which they hope to lure Turai away so that a Saudi doctor could grant them access to Yar’adua.
Ogbulafor left the country, Thursday night, with the Deputy National Chairman of the party, and the Deputy National Secretary, to brief the ailing President who left the country for medical attention since November 23, 2009 on how former Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was made the acting President of the country.
The final decision to travel, as gathered, was taken after the NWC meeting and also with the leadership of the National Assembly.
Vanguard say when they spoke with the PDP National Chairman, Prince Ogbulafor, last Saturday, he said the team was billed to hold conference with the First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua same day.
Yar’adua and Turai are one in law, so as Turai would say: “whoever have seen me, have seen the president also”.
Wallahi Shege Turai!