President Yar'Adua Unable To Hold Video Conference

PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YAR'ADUA .

As Senate Confirms Justice Katsina-Alu, Justice Ayo Salami.

Abuja (THEWILL) - Nigeria’s President was unable to address the Federal Executive Council nor leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday and Tuesday via satellite as touted because he has still not recovered from an ailment that was diagnosed last month.

The President has been at the King Faisal Hospital in Jeddah receiving treatment for acute pericarditis, an infection that has kept him hospitalized for more than three weeks.

The meeting of the party leaders was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Sources say the meeting was held to discuss the current state of affairs in the party and the president’s health.

There are reports that some members of the National Assembly and Governors from the Northern part of the country have been positioning themselves for the number 2 slot should the ailing president becomes unable to continue in office, a move which has consistently troubled the political party leaders.

The jostle for the position has presently divided the party along three major lines: the Obasanjo group, the Saraki / Ibori group and the Mahmud Yayale group. There is also the existence of another group working quietly and linked to Senate President David Mark and Chief Tony Anenih.

Those at the meeting were Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, and other senior party leaders.

Meanwhile the Senate on Wednesday evening confirmed the appointments of Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu as Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN) and Justice Ayo Salami as President of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Katsina-Alu takes over from Justice Idris Kutigi, who will retire at the end of the month, while Justice Salami will take over from Justice Umaru Abdullahi who has since proceeded on retirement.

Both Justices were confirmed after a question and answer screening exercise at the Senate Chamber.