What Yar’Adua’s 15-day absence costs Nigeria - He is safe abroad - PDP

From Akin Durodola, Okey Muogbo and Idowu Samuel, With Agency Report - 05.09.2008

THE 15-day absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua from Nigeria may have taken its toll on the administration of the country. This is because many policy decisions which are to get the consent of the president are currently yet to be approved.

Among the casualties of Yar’Adua’s absence are the delayed plans to declare a state of emergency in the power sector, the planned announcement on ‘land reforms’ and arrangement for trip to New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly.

President Yar’Adua was supposed to be in India on bilateral visit, but because of his continued stay in Saudi Arabia, the visit was postponed. India as an emerging economic power is of a vital importance to the economy of Nigeria.

The National Electricity Committee, headed by Dr. Rilwan Lukman, was said to have submitted its report on the power situation in the country but because the President was not around, the bill, it was gathered, cannot be sent to the National Assembly.

This, in effect, was bring a lot of setback because his absence is delaying the bill, which in turn depriving Nigerians of having regular supply of electricity.

Chief of what President Yar’Adua’s absence is said to be costing the country is the fact that there was no official handover when the President was travelling.

“It is an indication that there is no commander-in-chief. It will be difficult for the Vice-President to take vital decisions. Apart from this, it has serious security implication,” a source in the Presidency said.

As a result of his continued absence, a source in the Presidency said that governance had come to a virtual standstill in Abuja since two weeks ago.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings has been held twice with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan presiding, though vital decisions could not be taken during those two meetings.

There are also indications that President Yar’Adua may return to the country tomorrow. Since the President left the country, there have been speculations about his mission in Saudi Arabia. While many people believed that the President is battling a serious illness, the Federal Government had insisted that he was in Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj.

According to Saharareporters, the president may return to Nigeria on Saturday, hold meetings with ministers and officials before heading for Germany next week.

The agency quoted sources as saying he should come to Nigeria first on Saturday, address the nation and then leave for Germany, “to seek a more permanent solution to his kidney problem.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it had been in constant touch with President Yar’Adua, stating that speculations about his worsening health were uncalled for.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Professor Alkali Ahmed Rufai, stated this in Abuja during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune. Rufai said the best any Nigerian who was so concerned about the President could do was to pray for his well-being rather than joining in spreading what he called unfounded rumour about his health.

The PDP spokesperson, however, did not say when President Yar’Adua would be returning to Nigeria. He said his aides and the Federal Government were in the best position to say that. A source said that Yar’Adua spoke with one of his female relations in Abuja just two days after the relation called him, putting the phone on speaker, as she reportedly wanted those around her to listen to her conversation with the president.

It had earlier been reported that the Vice President, Jonathan, who presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting last Wednesday, told cabinet members that he spoke with Yar’Adua as he assured them during the meeting that all was well with him.