Date Published: 01/21/10

Northern Union, South-South leaders want VP Jonathan sworn-in as acting president

The Northern Union and the South-South Leaders Forum, on Thursday urged the National Assembly to pass a resolution authorizing the swearing –in of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

The two key ethno-regional groups which condemned the actions of those they tagged unpatriotic elements within the political class, maintained that the move would preserve the unity and corporate survival of the Nigeria state.

The position was contained in a communiqué  issues at the end of a joint meeting of both groups in Abuja.

Signatories include Olusola Saraki,( Chairman, NU) Edwin Clark,(Leader, SS Forum), Graham Douglas, Idongesit Nkangha, and Mike Akhigbe.

While sympathizing with the family of President Umaru Yar’Adua, and calling on Nigerians to pray for his speedy recovery, the elders regretted that those blocking the emergence of VP Jonathan were inadvertently calling for the collapse of the Nigeria state.

They reminded those members of the political class who are merely preserving their political interest that democracy is governed according to concrete norms, processes, structures, and institutions which guarantees equity, justice, fairness and good governance.

The elders said “Nothing will be further from strengthening and preserving the unity and corporate survival of Nigeria, than to allow the constitutionally empowered Vice President to act until such a time Mr President is medically fit to assume his duties”

It said further” The calls on the National Assembly to pass a resolution authorizing the swearing-In of the Vice President”