Yar’Adua may be ‘smuggled’ into Nigeria •To be flown in at night; to douse tension •We can’t guarantee his safety - Doctors
A last ditch effort to return ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua to the country from Saudi Arabia has been perfected by members of the kitchen cabinet, in a bid to end the massive agitation against his prolonged absence, sources have said.
According to Nigerian Tribune sources, members of the kitchen cabinet plan to return Yar’Adua to Nigeria between Monday and Wednesday night, ostensibly to calm the growing tension over his absence.
It was gathered that necessary arrangements had been concluded, pending the final conclusion of travel arrangements.
But sources further said that there was a snag in the plan at the weekend after the doctors treating the president declared that they could not guarantee that he would successfully make the long-haul trip.
It was gathered that the president was unhappy when he was told that he would be transferred to Nigeria any moment from now.
The decision was said to have been communicated to him on Saturday. A source said that his countenance changed and it was apparent that the trip back home at this time would be against his wish.
Sources said that confusion set in on Sunday when the doctors treating the president declared that it would be unwise for the president to undertake a five-hour journey in his present condition.
Although it was gathered that the wife, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, also agreed to the planned trip on Saturday, a source said that she started having doubts on Sunday, when she started nursing fears that anything could happen.
But it was gathered that the president’s wife had not called off preparations to fly the ailing president to Abuja.
Sources also said that the doctors confirmed that they were still conducting tests on the president and that there were some drugs he needed to take under close watch but that they would not obstruct the decision to transfer him to Nigeria.
“The doctors were blunt and they declared that they were prepared to hands off if they (first family) insist on taking the president to Nigeria. They said it would be at his peril and that even with air ambulance, they cannot guarantee anything,” a source said.
It was also gathered that the kitchen cabinet had contemplated purchasing an air ambulance if that would ensure the president’s transfer to Nigeria.
Sources, however, said that, the kitchen cabinet was insisting that he should return at night so as to hide the true state of his health from Nigerians.
They also plan to keep him indoors, where they plan to arrange a national broadcast via the radio.
Meanwhile, members of the kitchen cabinet of President Yar’Adua are confused on how to handle the communication on the motion passed by the Senate last week, which urged the president to comply with the provisions of Section145 of the constitution.
The kitchen cabinet, it was learnt, had started consultations on the motion passed by the Senate last week which urged the president to comply with the provisions of Section145 of the constitution.
It was further gathered that the kitchen cabinet was tinkering with the option of either allowing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, to communicate with the National Assembly over the matter or sending the motion to Saudi Arabia to secure the president’s comments before a response is sent to the National Assembly.
There have been meetings among members of the kitchen cabinet since the letter arrived on Friday.
“But there are two options, whether to allow the SGF to communicate the National Assembly or take the motion to the president in Saudi Arabia. That is just the confusing thing about it,” a source said.
Sources said that the kitchen cabinet was confused on how to handle the communication, especially in view of the ruling of the Federal High Court which indicated that section 145 did not make it mandatory for the president to transmit the vacation letter.
The presidency had received the motion from the National Assembly on Friday, after the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Prince Yemi Ogunyomi, transmitted the motion to the office.
It was confirmed that the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Mr. David Edevbie, who received the letter on behalf of the president, on Monday, met with Alhaji Ahmed, to discuss the way forward.
Another round of consultation was said to have begun between the Principal Secretary and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, at the weekend, soon after Edevbie received the communication from the National Assembly.
The Senate had, on January 27, passed a unanimous resolution, which urged President Yar’Adua to transmit a vacation letter to the National Assembly in line with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the motion, “the Senate urges the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, His Excellency Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR, to formally notify the National Assembly of his medical vacation pursuant to Section 145 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.”
The lawmakers also resolved to direct its committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution to propose an amendment to Section 145 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to resolve the flaws exposed by the present circumstance.
Once the motion is complied with, power would automatically be transferred to the vice-president, who would assume office as acting president.
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