Yar’Adua can’t be seen

AMIDST palpable confusion that enveloped Aso Rock, following the arrival of recuperating President Umaru Yar’Adua, the outcome of a meeting convened by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in the place of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, which he earlier postponed, revealed that since the arrival of Yar’Adua, Jonathan was yet to set his eyes on him.

However aides of the President have briefed the Acting President on the secretive arrival of the first family in Nigeria, which saw the deployment of heavily armed men and women of the elite guard, the Presidential Guards Brigade, a development reminiscence of a war situation.

Investigation by Vanguard revealed that despite the hurry return of President Yar’Adua to Nigeria, apparently to avert a looming impeachment; the President will continue to be incommunicado for a long time, as he was still undergoing serious but intensive medication.

It was learnt that apart from the his doctors, wife, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, the Chief Security Officer, Mr Yusuf Tilde, the Aid-de-Camp, ADC, Colonel Mustapha Onoyiveta and perhaps children, no nobody, no matter how highly placed, may be able to see the ailing President.

Following the inability of Jonathan to see his ailing boss, despite the short distance of few meters in the Presidential Villa, a meeting was scheduled for yesterday evening between Jonathan and the First Lady, Turai, obviously to discuss grey areas of who heads the Nigeria government with full executive powers.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, who headed a six-man team to Saudi Arabia, which returned yesterday, had officially announced to cabinet members that the Jonathan directed the immediate postponement of the FEC meeting, after ministers had waited in vain for over two hours.

“Honourable Ministers, Ladies and gentlemen, the Acting President has directed that this (FEC) meeting be postponed till further notice. He has asked that you go back to your respective offices. However, there will be a meeting by 2:00 pm in his conference room. It is mandatory for ministers to attend”, he said.

Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, who briefed State House Correspondents at the end of a brief meeting between Jonathan and all cabinet members, disclosed that apart from the Acting President none of them, ministers has been able to set their eyes on Yar’Adua, development she believed could be frustrating; even as she calls for more prayers for the country and the president.

“He invited us for a meeting in his meeting room at 2:00 pm and when we came he told us that the president has returned, he has been briefed by the aides of Mr President and that he hopes to see the wife of the president this evening and that when we meet next week, we will be briefed on the outcome of the report of the Saudi Arabia trip by the members of council. And when he is eventually briefed by our President, he will call us again”.

It was further learnt that the Acting President, in the mood of the nation, may have shelved many official engagement within and outside the Aso Rock, until and when the current but deepening political quagmire nomalises.

A Minister who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity said the move by the Acting President to meet with Ministers and assure them that there is an end to the ongoing political intrigues in the presidency was a smart and a matured one by him, perhaps to douse rising tension among actors, in the emerging scenario.

Vanguardnews