THISDAY can report today that before President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua left the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, he indeed wrote, signed and sent a letter of vacation to the National Assembly.
However, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, did not deliver the letter for political reasons.
Yar’Adua left for Saudi Arabia two weeks ago after being diagnosed with acute pericarditis – an inflammation of the coverings of the heart – and is currently receiving treatment at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah.
The newspaper reliably gathered that Yar’Adua, after deciding to go for a confirmatory medical check-up following the advice of his Personal Physician, Dr. Salisu Banye, wrote to the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, informing them of his intention to go on “medical vacation” to attend to his health.
This would have paved the way for Vice-President Good-luck Jonathan to properly take over as Acting President in line with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution which says: “Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.”
However, Abba-Aji, THISDAY learnt, was on his way to the National Assembly when he opened one of the letters and read the content and then decided to advise the President against it.
He was said to have made a U-turn and returned to see the President whom he advised that there were legal and political complications that could arise from the letter.
He told the President that on a closer look at the provision of Section 145, it would require the permission of the National Assembly for him to resume.
His opinion was that his return to his desk was not automatic and would be dependent on the National Assembly.
Abba-Aji was said to be wary of the “uncertainty” about what the Senate President could do. He reportedly argued that with Mark in power, it might be very difficult for the President to be allowed to resume his duties after the vacation.
The President was said to have directed that the letter be given to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, to take a look in line with the relevant sections of the Constitution for legal advice.
THISDAY learnt that it turned out to be the last that was heard of the matter until the President travelled out for treatment.
However, on his way to the airport, Yar'Adua, THISDAY learnt, called Jonathan on phone to inform him that he had directed the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr David Edevbie, to pass all files and correspondences without exception to the VP.
Yar'Adua then asked him to treat the files and take all necessary actions on his behalf.
THISDAY learnt that although Jonathan has been acting on behalf of the President, he decided not to touch certain matters because of possible legal implications.
For instance, he did not convene the Council of State meeting and also did not approve the list of National Merit Award winners.
Meanwhile, Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, at the weekend called on Nigerians to pray for quick recovery of Yar’Adua.
He described recent calls by some groups and individuals for the President to resign due to his ill health as unnecessary.
The former president made the call while speaking to newsmen at his residence in Sokoto.
Shagari, who hoped for speedy recovery for the president, stressed the need for Nigerians to always pray for those in position of leadership.
He appealed to those agitating for the president’s resignation to have a rethink on their “vicious campaign”.
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