Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua. President Federal Republic of Nigeria
If Mr. President is still in control of his mental faculty, and his sights have not failed him as some of his other body parts and organs have, he needs to read Princeton Lyman’s piece on Nigeria: “If Nigeria fails?”, published in BusinessDay on Jan. 7. (In fact, all federal ministers, legislators and state governors should read the article.) Mr. Lyman was a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, so his analysis can not be discounted.
This factual rendition of Nigeria statehood will make a greatly interesting read for Mr. president as he strives, I hope, to nurse himself back to good health, and return, hopefully, back to his duty post in Aso Rock. He’s been gone too long! And maybe the message from ambassador Lyman will spur Mr. President to greater commitment on state matters on his return, that’s, if he returns on time and his health permits.
Nigeria has been without a sitting president since December 1, 2009, when Alhaji Yar’Adua became hospitalized at a Saudi (supposedly) hospital.
According to the Nigerian ambassador to Saudi, the president is “fit & sound” and will return to work soon. I’m not sure the ambassador knows what he’s saying. How can a fit man still be incarcerated in a hospital?
“Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abdullah Aminchi, said on Friday that President Umaru Yar’Adua was ‘sound and fit’, and would return to the country as soon as he was strong enough to take on the demands of his office.” - Punch. Jan 8.
This Yaradua’s case leaves a sour taste in the mouth, particularly from a self-proclaimed “master-servant”. If the president and his handlers appreciate the value of the voters that put them in office, they would have been more accountable to the Nigerian public. Politics is public service, not mom& pop road-side business!
January 8, 2010 at 9:47 am
At first, Yardy was on seat in body but never there in mind and soul. Now he is gone AWOL (as some call it) and not there in body mind and soul. He is supposed to be responsible for Nigerians but Nigerians are even the ones doing the searching for him. That said, Yardy IS INCOMPETENT and something needs done about this.
January 8, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Read the article and very deep. Yes youre right Imnakoya, Nigerians and their so called leaders should not only read but also reflect deeply on the message of the article. BUT WILL THEY? Self destruct buttons seem bent on being pushed by a few people holding all others hostage in Nigeria.
January 8, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Imnakoya please educate me on this one. The excerpt is from Nigerian vanguard:
“ABUJA —Indications emerged, yesterday, that Federal Government might have parted ways with the Senate over its call on the United States of America to delete the name of Nigeria from the terror watch-list within seven days or incur a diplomatic row.
So does this mean that the Senate is not part of Nigerian Federal Goverment and they can issue ultimatums on behalf of Nigeria without the knowledge of the FG?
Getting more confused about the heirarchy ladder in Nigerian politics.
Thank you.
January 8, 2010 at 1:30 pm
That’s a reporter’s fault, and it’s just a matter of semantics.
The executive branch, erroneously referred to as the “Federal government” in the report, is what has parted ways with the Senate (a component of the legislative branch) over the ultimatum. The Attorney Gen. rescinded the ultimatum order, a sensible call certainly. Now it’s up to the Senate to make a statement to that effect.
Don’t ask me what the Senators were thinking (or drank) when they issued an ultimatum….
January 8, 2010 at 2:05 pm
@ Bayo - Yes, governance is certainly not a mom&pop store operations!
January 8, 2010 at 2:10 pm