YAR’ADUA: Turai arrives any moment from now - S/West govs, traditional rulers declare 3-day fasting for Yar’Adua - Set up committee on Yoruba unity - AC Reps offer suggestions on Yar’Adua
From Stephen Gbadamosi and Bola Badmus
Wednesday, December 9, 2009

THE First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar'Adua is set to arrive in the country any moment from now. Reliable information reaching Nigerian Tribune as of the time of going to the press revealed that the president’s wife had left Saudi Arabia and was preparing to return to Nigeria.






advertisement

Most of the personal aides of the First Lady had earlier been sent back home after a strong suspicion that some of them had been revealing information concerning the president’s health to people who had been going to the press with it.

It was learnt that there were moves to get the president out of the hospital to an exclusive hotel where marabouts would be able to pray for him but his doctors were said to have kicked against it on the grounds that there may be an emergency, since he is said to have been in and out of coma since he was admitted to King Faisal Hospital, Saudi Arabia, two weeks ago.

The option of asking the president to resign does not arise at the moment as the president, it was learnt, is not even in a position to determine whether to resign or not as his state of health does not allow him.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Tribune observed in Katsina, that security has been beefed up around the President’s house in the town. His Mother Hajiya Dada Habib Yar'Adua has not been attending to visitors as the only thing going on there is prayers by marabouts.

The president's mother is said to be very sad because, just some nine months ago, precisely on March 24, she lost her 65-year old daughter, Hajiya Hadiza Musa Yar'adua, elder sister of President Yar’Adua, in Cairo, Egypt.

His elder brother, Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua also died in prison on December 8, 1997. Meanwhile, governors of the South-West geopolitical zone and leading traditional rulers from the zone converged on Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday, to deliberate on the progress of the region and the entire nation, concluding the meeting with a mandate for the Yoruba people, both home and abroad, to fast and pray for the quick recovery of President Umaru Yar’Adua between Thursday and Saturday.

According to a three-point communiqué read by the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Segun Oni, the gathering also set up a committee of three traditional rulers, with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Victor Olateru-Olagbegi, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; and the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olasore, as members. The committee was mandated to consult with all traditional rulers in Yorubaland on the need for every member of the race to work towards the unity of Yorubaland.

The meeting canvassed for a situation where the region would speak without divergent view on major national issues.

A committee of governors, led by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State, was also set up and mandated to hold further consultations with different groups within the political class with a opinion to resolving identified differences.

Speaking on the resolutions of the meeting, Governor Oni said, “the meeting stated emphatically that the entire Yorubaland should support the president, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, with prayers.
[size=14pt]
“All Yoruba sons and daughters at home and abroad, irrespective of religious affiliation, should hold fasting and prayers, from Thursday to Saturday, during which supplications should be made to God to restore the president to good health and bring him back home in safely.”[/size]

Present at the meeting were Governor Oyinlola; Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; Ondo State deputy governor, Alhaji Alli Olanusi; Ogun State deputy governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru; the Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru-Olagbegi; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe; the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Olasore; the Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Al-Maroof Adekunle; the Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Lawal; the Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Abioye Oyebode, among others.

In his welcome address at the session, Governor Oni had earlier called for greater unity among Yoruba leaders, saying Yoruba leaders ought to close ranks to rebuild the Yoruba nation to its old virile, formidable entity that would be a pride of all and envy of others.

“The universal maxim is that a house that is divided against itself cannot stand. Individual struggle, therefore, will certainly lead us nowhere. “For too long, we have left our flanks open; we have allowed cracks in the proverbial wall to provide habitation for reptiles of all shades, shapes and colour. The time is now for us to close ranks and join hands to rebuild the Yoruba nation to its old virile, formidable entity that would be a pride of all and envy of others. It is imperative at this point to trumpet the clarion call, that this is a most auspicious time to put our house in order, for us to speak with a loud and strong voice.”

Governor Oni, who lamented the present state of the Yoruba nation, said: “A time it was when we were trail-blazers. A time it was when we were the pathfinders, always in the forefront. We were the region that other regions aspired and struggled to be at. Where are we today?

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of television broadcast in Africa. The mustard seed was sown in Ibadan, capital of the then Western Region, on 30th September, 1959, to the credit of the Yoruba race.

“Today, what has become of the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan (at a time the best in Nigeria, nay Africa) serves as metaphor of our race and challenges us as a people. And our Cocoa House! Just as we towered above other races, decades gone by, the Cocoa House was the tallest building in Nigeria. A tourist attraction, the number one skyscraper in the Nigerian firmament ought to be. The once a cynosure of all eyes today beckons on us for redemption and reactivation, just as our race demands. This is food for thought for us all.”

Oni noted that it was no longer necessary for the Yoruba nation to continue to apportion blame, saying, “We have gone beyond the stage of apportioning blame, of asking who was wrong. Our concern today is to painstakingly, objectively and sincerely identify what is wrong and fashion the way out, devoid of malice and prejudice. It is time for us to rekindle, reinvent and re-ventilate the affinity, enthusiasm and the unity of purpose displayed by our fore-fathers towards the liberation of our ancestral lineage which we so much cherish with relish, ages gone by.”Meanwhile, the Action Congress (AC) caucus in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, suggested a middle ground in the ongoing controversy trailing calls for the resignation of ailing President Yar’Adua, urging him to invoke Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

Section 145 of the constitution enjoins the president to communicate both the President of the Senate and Speaker, House of Representatives, in the event that he cannot perform functions of his office.

The caucus, led by Honourable Femi Gbaja-biamila, who is also deputy whip of the House, made the call at a press briefing attended by other members, saying from the look of things, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was not in charge and could not call the military to war in case there was invasion of Nigeria by external forces.

According to the group of lawmakers, the need to ask the president to invoke the said section was as a result of the controversies generated by calls from certain eminent Nigerians, including former presidential candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Olu Falae and former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, that the president, who is currently receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, should resign his office.

The AC lawmakers said invoking Section 145 of the constitution would achieve two things, namely: that there would be a legal transfer of power to Vice-President Jonathan and, again, not being a resignation letter, it should be satisfactory to those opposed to the resignation of President Yar’Adua.

“This would achieve two things. First, there would then be a legal transfer of his powers to the vice-president and second, not being a resignation letter, it should be satisfactory to those who oppose resignation,” the lawmakers stated.

Meanwhile, the Body of Attorneys-General has dissociated itself from the call by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, for the resignation of President Umaru Yar’Adua, and described it as premature.

The body, which comprises the Commissioners for Justice and Attorneys-General of all the states, issued a communiqué to that effect after their conference which ended on Monday in Jos, Plateau State.

The conference which had as its theme “Justice Sector Reform Agenda In Nigeria,” discussed such topics as the Private Bill on Arbitration Commission; Update on Niger Delta Amnesty Programme; Justice Sector Reform in Nigeria, experiences and lessons learnt; and Investigation and prosecution of religion-based violence in Nigeria among others.

In attendance were the governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), state Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice, representative of DFID, Stakeholders and other members of the private bar.

Also in the communiqué, the body of attorneys-general advised that criminal cases emanating from the states should be prosecuted by the states, adding “the tradition of forwarding case files to the Federal Attorney-General for prosecution should cease.”

In addition, the body advised that the Inspector General of Police should be cautious in transferring case files relating to state offence to his office, and suggested that he should constitute a panel to look into such matter within the affected state.

According to the body, the process of appointment of judges by the National Judicial Commission (NJC) should be reviewed to include attorneys-general of the states and members of the private bar, even as they agreed that members of the private bar should also be considered for direct appointment to appellate courts as it used to be done.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/dec/9/613.html

These idi.ots need to shut the fuckup like really about fasting. I think everyone is scared of what will happen if yaradua dies.

and i see the continuation of ethnic politics as usual, let the games begin, I suspect alot of decamping come 2011.

sjeezy8:

These idi.ots need to shut the fuckup like really about fasting. I think everyone is scarde of what will happen in yaradua dies.

and i see the continuation of ethnic politics as usual, let the games begin, I suspect alot of decamping come 2011.

Are you afraid to fast and pray for your fellow human being?

All Yoruba sons and daughters at home and abroad, irrespective of religious affiliation, should hold fasting and prayers, from Thursday to Saturday, during which supplications should be made to God to restore the president to good health and bring him back home in safely

why don't we extend this charade for 365 days by then who knows, yeye governors.

the idiottt, should simply resign, prayers should come after.

Kay 17:

the idiottt, should simply resign, prayers should come after.

Why refer to him as an idiot because of a sickness he has no control over?

Where is WilyWily. . . . Im waiting for a witty quip about how the Yoruba leaders are brownnosing up to Arewa again.

sjeezy8:

These idi.ots need to shut the fuckup like really about fasting. I think everyone is scared of what will happen if yaradua dies.

and i see the continuation of ethnic politics as usual, let the games begin, I suspect alot of decamping come 2011.

You say that in the comfort of L America, it woulda made sense if you were in Naija.

I will rather call on OPCman who obviously made a haste assumption.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-361216.0.html

Sometimes, i think we waste Gods time, and i think that is the case here.
The man is sicker than a dog, he still dont wanna let go of power and i shd now waste my time and miss my delicious meal to pray for some idiot that dont even like his own life? I am sorry, heaven help those who help themselves.

BTW . . . what an hypocrisy act by the yeye Yoruba leaders, like they really wanted the dude to get well?

I definitely wont be fasting. . .But i wish YarAdua well!

MrCrackles:

I definitely wont be fasting. . .But i wish YarAdua well!

You are even a nice guy.
i wish him what he wish himself, and not just by saying but by his deeds

MrCrackles:

I definitely wont be fasting. . .But i wish YarAdua well!

You need to stay off those hamburgers for 3 days, it wouldn't hurt to do it for Yaradua and other PDP members

Aloy~Emeka:

You need to stay off those hamburgers for 3 days, it wouldn't hurt to do it for Yaradua and other PDP members

For where. . .I am a young man, still growing so i need my food!

Fhemmmy:



BTW . . . what an hypocrisy act by the yeye Yoruba leaders, like they really wanted the dude to get well?

I think Yoruba council of elders should declare a compulsory one week fasting and prayers for PDP and not Yaradua alone.

Aloy~Emeka:

You need to stay off those hamburgers for 3 days, it wouldn't hurt to do it for Yaradua and other PDP members

Like the PDP themselves gives a damn abt the fool.
I am sure most of them are praying for his death for them to get a shot at the first position of the nation and have access to raw money

Aloy~Emeka:

I think Yoruba council of elders should declare a compulsory one week fasting and prayers for PDP and not Yaradua alone.

I think the Yoruba council of fools elder, should be told to STFU

MrCrackles:

For where. . .I am a young man, still growing so i need my food!

3 days away from the food won't hurt. Think of what you can achieve with it: The whole PDP members may repent and accept Christ or Mohammed thereby leaving your money alone.

Aloy~Emeka:

3 days away from the food won't hurt. Think of what you can achieve with it: The whole PDP members may repent and accept Christ or Mohammed thereby leaving your money alone.

That itself if the best fasting.

Aloy~Emeka:

3 days away from the food won't hurt. Think of what you can achieve with it: The whole PDP members may repent and accept Christ or Mohammed thereby leaving your money alone.

Hahahaha. . . .Nah, TB Joshua and his prayer warriors will do the fasting for him . . . .

MrCrackles:

Hahahaha. . . .Nah, TB Joshua and his prayer warriors will do the fasting for him . . . .

We need more sincere citizens to do the fasting. TB Joshua's beard blocks the rays of God's blessings unto Nigeria.

They should be fasting for Nigeria that is fast becoming a headless chicken

We are already a headless chicken for days now.

Aloy~Emeka:

We need more sincere citizens to do the fasting. TB Joshua's beard blocks the rays of God's blessings unto Nigeria.

God will forgive yu oh

Aloy~Emeka:

We need more sincere citizens to do the fasting. TB Joshua's beard blocks the rays of God's blessings unto Nigeria.

Fhemmmy:

God will forgive yu oh

Lol, why God bone us for Naija na?

Who even cares mehn? these guys are full of sh.it. Im tired of hearing these clowns talk
Yoruba dis n dat that sh.it is getting annoying

Ibime:

Where is WilyWily. . . . Im waiting for a witty quip about how the Yoruba leaders are brownnosing up to Arewa again.

What yoruba leaders? and what about the SS/SE "leaders" nominating yaradua for noble peace prize? lmfao thats even funnier

Nigeria is full of BS comedian govenors

Aloy~Emeka:

Lol, why God bone us for Naija na?

God never bone us at all, we da one that has boned Him.
There are so many people that claims to be worshiping him, but are really not.

I think Yoruba council of elders should declare a compulsory one week fasting and prayers for PDP and not Yaradua alone.

How old are you. Did you ever heard of Operation wetin.


What did the Yorubas do.

Look i can tell you this. If anybody claim Yar adua won yorubaland. Yoruba people would burn down everything that person own.

This is the danger that Nigeria face in 2011.

becomrich,:

How old are you. Did you ever heard of Operation wetin.


What did the Yorubas do.

Look i can tell you this. If anybody claim Yar adua won yorubaland. Yoruba people would burn down everything that person own.

This is the danger that Nigeria face in 2011.


Read Yoruba history evverytime things like this happen. What you saw in Ijebu Ife is small play what Yoruba people would do, they are feed up with people selling them for money.

Can you prove this with a map?

I laugh in Zimbabwe!!!
Like the fasting would save Nigeria from Yaradunce.