Date Published: 12/03/09

Governors back FEC, say Yar'Adua cannot resign

Governors from the 36 states in Nigeria rose from their meeting and declared that there was no basis for the call for ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to resign from office in view of his failing health.

The Governors at the meeting chaired by Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State hailed the decision of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and lampooned those alleged to have placed advertorials in Newspapers calling for the resignation of President Yar’Adua.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting states:

"The Nigerian Governors Forum met today, 3rd December, 2009, at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.

"We noted with dismay the current debate in the media on the calls for the resignation of Mr President necessitated by a paid advert in the Leadership newspaper of Wednesday, December 2nd 2009 by some people who purportedly signed the advert.

"It is gratifying to note that some of the people who were purported to have signed the advert have already dissociated themselves from it. The Nigerian Governors Forum, therefore, observes as follows:

"We commend the sense of leadership demonstrated by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under the leadership of the Vice-President. This demonstrates that government, at the Federal level is alive to its responsibilities and it’s being complemented by the 36 governors.

"Constitutionally, in the absence of any incapacitation on the part of the President, it is precipitate and diversionary to call for Mr President’s resignation. It is on this basis that the Nigerian Governors Forum considers the calls for Mr President’s resignation as a betrayal or a lack of respect for the Constitution and the system of government for this country.

"On the basis of this foregoing, therefore, the Nigerian Governors Forum hereby restates our firm commitment to the peace, progress and stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We wish Mr President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, quick recovery as he continues to lead our country."

The meeting was attended by:

Saraki (Kwara), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Usman Dakingari (Kebbi).

Also there are: Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Aliyu Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Mahmud Shinkafi (Zamfara), Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna - Deputy Governor), Abdullahi Gwarzo (Kano – Deputy Governor) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Segun Oni (Ekiti), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ikedi Ohakin (Imo), Peter Obi (Anambra), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi) were also there.

More on Governor's meeting over Yar'Adua's health issues: -Governors meeting over Yar'Adua ...May endorse FEC decision