Government
Insists No Basis For Yar’Adua To Resign
Aliyu Othman, Abuja
The
Nigerian government has said there was no basis to declare the
seat of President Umaru Yar'Adua vacant because of his
ill-health.
The Federal Executive Council, rejected calls to invoke section
144 of the 1999 Constitution on the ill health of President
Umaru Yar’Adua.
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, the highest executive
decision making body in the country, made its position known
shortly after its weekly meeting presided over by Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora
Akunyili said in Abuja, at the end of the weekly meeting of the
council, that after reviewing all facts available, it resolved
there was no basis to suggest that President Yar’Adua was
incapable of discharging his functions.
She said the meeting reviewed calls, by some sections and
groups, for the president to resign from his position on grounds
of ill health and concluded that such demands were unnecessary.
’’Council, having reviewed all the facts on ground, unanimously
resolved that there is no basis for the invocation of the
provisions of Section 144 of the Constitution for the reason
that the President has not been found incapable of discharging
his functions…Council wishes to inform all Nigerians that all
organs of Government are functioning, and that Government will
continue to deliver,'' she said.
Mrs. Akunyili said all organs of government were functioning and
government would continue to deliver.
Expatiating on the resolution, the SGF said that all
governmental activities were being conducted well with the Vice
President in charge.
He stated that the council would not be stampeded into invoking
Section 144 of the constitution.
’’FEC, as presently constituted, is a highly responsible and
patriotic organ. Since we are creation of the Constitution, we
will not shy away from the responsibilities of carrying out
government job…If it is the wisdom of the Council to invoke any
Section of the Constitution, we do not need anyone to remind us
because we are responsible enough to know what is right,’’ he
said
Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice,
Michael Aondoakaa said that FEC decision was based on the
release by the chief physician to Yar'Adua on full disclosure of
his ailment, which gave indication of recovery progress.
"The general principle of law dictates that suspicion or
speculation remains what they are no matter how strong…The
Constitution did not make provision for creation of a
super-human as a President. He explains.
He added, ’’The call for invocation of Section 144 is a call on
FEC which is the only constitutional body empowered to start the
process, we have looked at the fact on ground and found that
there is no basis to even contemplate the starting of the
process.’’
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, said that
even with the health condition of the President, Nigeria had
continued to discharge its responsibilities as a major global
player on the diplomatic front.
He noted that the Vice President or his office's representation
at global functions was adequate and did not suggest that the
country had lost visibility.
Others at the briefing were Finance Minister Mansur Mukhtar,
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Uffot Ekaette and the
Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji
Aliyu Bilbis.
With additional reports from NAN
Yinka
