Date Published: 01/07/10

President Yar’Adua’s Revolt By Edmond Omobhude

Only doubting Thomas would wonder the political drama caused by President Yar’Adua’s sick holiday in Saudi Arabia. Many of us sympathise with him but have no understanding that he must leave Nigeria to any country overseas for medical treatment. It is even more absurd that he went to Saudi Arabia for treatment, which is unknown for any excellence apart from being the birthplace of Islam. That President Yar’Adua could not evaluate its implication on our national security and international interest means he has taken his arrogance too far and should therefore not be tolerated. 

We may not have any well equipped hospital to treatment him in Nigeria, which is self inflicted. Otherwise, Nigeria is in position to boast of at least ten first class medical centres of excellence for not only the elite class; but for their lack of patriotism, leadership and values, have subjected all of us to mockery and ridicule from the citizens of other progressive nations. If President Yar’Adua understands what self respect and pride means, he would have decline any offer of free treatment abroad to import the best expert for his treatment in Nigeria no matter its cost to taxpayers. If he had done this, maybe our home experts would have been able to tap or steal from the knowledge of the imported experts including equipments in the course of his treatment. A single patriotic action of service could have produced a multiplier effect for taxpayers from all perspectives. Saudi Arabia is not richer than Nigeria; be it in human or natural resources. Yet, it has developed better in every sphere to question our political elite for all the wrongs and why Nigeria is now a bottom nation with all its negativities.

Irrespective of what informed President Yar’Adua to seek medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, his absence is causing a constitutional crisis. Before dwelling on the latter, let me reveal some critical issues of the oddity of the President’s medical abode in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is unknown for medical excellence to surprise anyone that it had become a choice place for President Yar’Adua. Nevertheless, for a critical mind, Saudi Arabia might fit the picture if we think he is an Islamic fundamentalist who hates the west; yet would not hate the things they produced to make the world go around and for sweetness of life. Our politicians, especially from the south cannot read between the lines to know that Yar’Adua is pursuing an Islamic agenda to undermine our secular state and constitution. There are enough reasons to be suspicious of Yar’Adua’s mission to Saudi Arabia; unless we agree that Saudi Arabia is an ally of Nigeria. We have not forgotten our President’s absence at the last UN general assembly conference in New York. It ought to alarm Nigerians. Critically, how do you explain it to a reasonable person that our president went to Saudi Arabia to meet a local governor to witness the opening of a new university. Yet, our universities were closed because of strike for better education. Again, what could have been more important than attending the UN conference to pursue our nation’s interest? If we had been critical of Yar’Adua’s action, maybe we could have realised that Yar’Adua was already having signs of mental impairment. After all, Saudi Arabia is no model for enlightenment and modernity. Can we name any Islamic country that has a well entrenched democracy? I guess, not! Whereas, we ought to be looking to the west for the progress of Nigeria since our prosperity lies in the West in spite of the burden of history.

I cannot enter President Yar’Adua mind to see the truth in his heart. However, I can interpret the action of his mind. He has lost our trust even if his interests in Saudi Arabia are harmless. It is possible that Yar’Adua’s resent of the West is informed by Obama’s failure to acknowledge Nigeria’s peace role in Africa since he snub Nigeria to visit Ghana; an adversary determined to take our place. If not for the fraud of our ruling class, can Ghana rival Nigeria to become the torch bearer in West Africa - a significant role dashed by lack of patriotism by our political elite? All the same, any animosity towards Obama’s sincere rebuke of Nigeria and its political elite will backfire. Therefore, to a lesser degree, I cannot think that Obama’s snub of Nigeria is enough reason for Yar’Adua to seek friends in Islamic world - home to terrorists and haters of free world. We need unity in Nigeria - south and north to bring Yar’Adua home from the hostage of Islamic zealot.

Where is President Yar’Adua? The secrecy around Yar’Adua is no longer acceptable to taxpayers. He is not a private person but a public servant whose wellbeing or health is of public interest whether or not the bill is borne by taxpayers. We should not let his wife Turai and a few close associates to mislead the public about the state of affairs. We should let them know that there is no-where-else that the secrecy about the health of President Yar’Adua will not generate public fury and lambasting. Our relationship to President Yar’Adua is comparable to that of employer-and-employee’s contract relation. I cannot imagine any employer that will not ask for a medical report if his employee avoid work for 43 days. Regrettably, the magnitude of the crisis is undermined by the artificiality of our unity and the polemics of north and south debacle. As such, we cannot have a genuine debate on the crisis. How long can Nigeria continue to go on like this? This is not the time we allow the political hawks in Nigeria to exploit the situation to keep the status quo. A reason that Nigeria ended in the realm of failed state despite this being openly refuted. Even so, how do we explain the menace of Boko Haram, Islamic zealotry in the north, sharia, kidnapping and elite lawlessness and corruption? 

This time demand the ingenuity of our parliamentarians to rise above self interest and ethnicity for the survival of Nigeria and the pride of our people. The constitution may have been created imperfect subject to it being interpreted by man for the intent of public good. Therefore, it is now implicit on both houses of parliament to elect a 10 man facts finding delegation to Saudi Arabia for on spot assessment of Yar’Adua’s condition. With the view of making a decision on whether Yar’Adua is mentally or physically fit to continue in office. They should not leave the decision alone to the federal executive council (Ministers) because, they are not prepared to forsake Yar’Adua. They will not do the right thing because of self interest and not the love for Yar’Adua. I can imagine their thinking; especially the unproductive ministers who will be praying that the Vice President (Goodluck Jonathan) remain in a legal limbo until Yar’Adua serve-out his office from his sick bed. It may sound absurd, who cares. Patriotism is only a vague concept to the political elite. But then, the ministers represent a tiny fragment of power tussle and puzzle. What about the conspiracy allegation of the north that Obasanjo imposed a sick Yar’Adua on Nigeria to deny them of their chance in having their man in power to corner our common wealth into the hands of few to train their children abroad, who have turned out to be terrorist to rubbish Nigeria and damn our good people.

Yes, is it now that the northerners should be crying foul? Why did they not reject Yar’Adua to vote Buhari if they knew then that Yar’Adua was a cheat in disguise? Which ever way, there are many progressive northerners, apart from the House of northern monarchs that deceives their own people to hold on to One Nigeria because of the oil wealth from the south, which they exploit ostentatiously. They will prefer Yar’Adua to continue irrespective of his wish. Or, perpetually shroud his state of health in secrecy so that he might serve out his term of office. Even though it may harm our national interest to preserve political power that is so dear to northern ruling elite or better put in the interest of the sultan and his emirs. It would surprise me if the same northerners would have had any understanding for a southerner as president in Yar’Adua’s shoes. Trust me; southerners will take on a southerner for the interest of Nigeria. Unfortunately, the few moderate northerners are not as sincere to let true democracy to thrive in Nigeria. We remember how much Obasanjo was criticised by his fellow southerners, which are still ongoing. We cannot wait and see Yar’Adua complete his term of office from sick bed should he outlive the prediction of his adversary. We hope he is still alive, though? 

Nigerians cannot accept north’s concept of power. We cannot let Yar’Adua rule from his sick bed until his term of office elapse. Just to give the north enough time to find a suitable candidate for PDP’s presidential ticket without allowing Goodluck Jonathan to complete Yar’Adua’s term. North’s sit-tight policy is dangerous. Again, I think north’s concept of power does not promote a healthy political co-existence of multi-ethnicity. The rationale of rotational presidency is not a bad concept per say. Nevertheless, it is outlandish to our current constitution and PDP cannot put a provision that violates our constitution on its manifesto or its political Party’s article of association. Our political hawks must thread carefully. It took us a long pain to get to this level of democracy in spite of the flaws and unacceptable state of affairs. Practice makes perfect is a conventional wisdom. This should guide us to understand that only politicians can bring positive political and economic development; even though, they may still be the sole instigator of their own self destruction. All the same, nothing can replace democracy – create space for your own space. As such, democracy is best form of government for a free people no matter its flaws. If we want a progressive nation, we should do away with the idea of rotational presidency but to promote the culture of best citizen for Nigeria political offices. Since, it will help us in nurturing the culture of excellence to drive our development. North’s policy of hegemony is not trust building nor helpful in promoting reconciliation and unity for the good of our nationalism and citizenship.

On the question of constitutional crisis, I think it is time for the parliament to carry out the impeachment of President Yar’Adua in view of the need to have an effective government to get budget implemented and the terrorism threat from zealot northern youths. We must end the debate on whether or not Goodluck Jonathan (VP) can act until President Yar’Adua write to both houses of parliament giving him authority in section 145 of the constitution. Such a letter is discretionary and not mandatory on Yar’adua. Even then, the letter is unnecessary; unless, VP wants a different political status – ceremonial acting president to use his own name and authority; instead of using the appendage of on behalf of President Yar’Adua. However, the position of acting president is burdened with constitutional lacuna. An acting president may not be able to sack or appoint new ministers, initiate or change any of the current unpopular policy of Yar’Adua’s government. Therefore, it is imperative to sack Yar’Adua to enable Goodluck Jonathan and any nominee of his choice as VP to take charge and tackle Nigeria’s domestic and international challenges. 

I would not like to be in Goodluck Jonathan’s position at this moment. But, we must get real. Goodluck Jonathan might be a president by necessity; unfortunately, the wounds caused by Yar’Adua’s revolt will be difficult to heal. Unless, there is a national summit of true patriots to discuss the kind of nation we should seek from the impasse of north’s arrogance.

For us to move on, we must ask: what is north really afraid of? In a normal scenario, after election, a Nigerian president ought to be the president of all Nigerians no matter the divide. After all, the president takes an oath of office to rule Nigeria and to serve our people equally. So, where is the problem that northerners can’t trust others; yet they want to be at liberty to use the oil wealth from the south to breed terrorist to disdain our good and peaceful people? If Goodluck Jonathan is denied power, then, One Nigeria is over. The south must not accept the ‘Abiola or Obasanjo’ compromise. Niger Delta militants should stay alert; no more surrender of weapon because the north is nursing a jihad. We cannot continue this way for few people to mess up Nigeria and its good people. We must end Yar’Adua’s revolt no matter the cost.

By Edmond Omobhude

Email:edmondomobhude@yahoo.com; odionik.patrick@hotmail.com