Yar’Adua’s Power Brokers Off To Saudi Arabia

L_R; BUKOLA SARAKI AND JAMES IBORI. Photo: DTSG

Abuja (THEWILL) – Reports available to THEWILL indicate that President Yar’Adua’s trusted men are in Jeddah to consult with him.

Those currently in Saudi Arabia are two governors; Bukola Saraki and Isa Yuguda, economic adviser Tanimu Yakubu, close friends of Turai Yar'Adua, some close family members and former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, who joined them from Dubai. Our investigations show they are in Jeddah to see the president and discuss on the best possible way forward for the country.

The president left Nigeria with his wife and some aides last week Monday for Saudi Arabia after suffering from a disease called acute pericarditis, which causes the membrane around the heart to bloat. He is hospitalized at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah where he has undone several tests.

There is no word on when they will return.

Meanwhile the Action Congress has called for an urgent review of the nation’s constitution because of the president’s health and the debate over his succession by the vice president.

A.C.’s National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed in a statement on Sunday said his party was disturbed by reports over the weekend that there was pressure on the vice president to sign an undated letter of resignation so that he will not be in a position to become president as stipulated in the constitution should the current president resigns or dies.

“We demand to know the identity of this dark mafia. We want to know who these people are who want to continue to run this country on the basis of a cabal,” he said.

The vice president had in a statement over the weekend refuted claims that he was being pressured to sign an undated letter of resignation, but the A.C. is not buying that explanation saying, “there is no smoke without fire.”

“Despite the rush to deny the veracity of the story by the office of the vice president, we know that there is no smoke without fire and we are concerned that some dark forces can be plotting to thwart the constitution.”

The A.C. wants the vice president to come clean on the allegation.

In its reaction to the alleged pressure on the V.P, The Joint Revolutionary Council, an umbrella body of fighters made up of MEND and other groups in the Niger Delta region has also voiced its concern.

Spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, in a note said the Ijaw race would bring war and terror on the country if northern interests continue to push for the vice president’s resignation. It said it would resist any attempt to undermine the vice president or the Ijaw community.

“ We wish to remind all men of goodwill that our decision to increase progressive engagement with the Nigerian State is much strengthened by the sincere involvement of vice president Gooluck Jonathan. We therefore condemn any attempt to undermine him or question his ability and capacity for service.”

“For too long dubious northern cabals have continued to exploit the ignorance of Southern politics to sow divisions and create anarchy. That time is over,” the council warned.

The anxiety generated by President Yar’Adua’s sudden admission of a serious medical ailment last week has set up a debate over his successor. The Nigerian Constitution clearly states that the Vice President becomes president if the President is unable to continue in office for whatever reasons.

The ruling party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently has an unconstitutional power sharing arrangement, which rotates power between the Northern and Southern parts of the country after every eight years. The president, who is in his third year in office, is from the North while his V.P is from the South.

How this plays out will likely be determined by the president’s state of health.