Shagari, Gowon, Shonekan, Kutigi, others ask Yar’Adua to hand over

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Group lauds Senate decision.

Fresh pressures were mounted yesterday on ailing president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and his band of sit-tight aides when the 'Eminent Elders Group' chaired by General Yakubu Gowon yesterday urged the president to respect the constitution by handing over to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan pending his return to the country.

The call, perhaps the most devastating since national clamour for him to temporary quit power began, came barely 24 hours after the Senate had passed a resolution asking President Yar'Adua to formally notify the National Assembly of his medical vacation as demanded by the constitution to ensure that the business governance goes on unhindered.Other members of the group are former President Shehu Sgagri; Alex Ekwueme, former vice president; Alfa Belgore, former Justice of the Supreme Court; Idris Kutigi, immediate past Justice of the Supreme Court; Theophilus Danjuma, former Defence Minister; Jerry Gana, former information and national orientation minister and Edwin Clark; a first republic federal commissioner of information.Other members of the group who attended their meeting at ECOWAS Secretariat, Asokoro, Abuja on Wednesday include Mohammed Uwais, one time chief justice of the Supreme Court and chairman, Electoral Reforms Committee; Ernest Shonekan, former interim head of state; Solomon Lar, a former chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP); Adamu Ciroma; Ahmed Joda, former permanent secretary.In the two-page letter titled "The State of the Nation" presented separately to Vice President Jonathan; Senate President David Mark and Dimeji Bankole, speaker of the House of Representatives, the eminent leaders lauded the National Assembly for the resolution passed by the Senate on Wednesday just as they urged the President to "formally issue the necessary communication that will enable the Vice President to be acting President in accordance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution as soon as possible".

"For well over eight weeks now, our President has been ill and out of the country. This illness and long absence from the country is causing serious concern not only for Nigerian citizens but all those who do business with Nigeria and have the well-being of the country at heart.

"Following a critical review of the general political situation of the country in the recent past, but more especially since the illness of the President and his prolonged absence, it was decided to address this letter to Your Excellency, the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of the Federal House of Representatives.

It is important to resolve this issue by inviting the President to formally issue the necessary communication that will enable the Vice President to be acting President in accordance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution as soon as possible," the letter stated. While presenting the letter to the Senate president, Shehu Shagari who led the delegation expressed concern over the lingering crisis, however, noted that the peaceful resolution of the crisis "depends on you (National Assembly)."

"We are happy to know that you were discussing the same thing that we were discussing yesterday. We believe everything depends on you. Ours is to give advice to the present leadership on the way forward. We are concerned about the development and decided to offer our own contributions," Shagari said while presenting the letter to Mark. Responding, the Senate president who commended the intervention of the Group explained that the position taken by the lawmakers was based on the need for stability, unity, cohesion and the conscious need for power balancing in the country as well as security of the nation. "I am sure your words of wisdom will benefit all Nigerians. Our decision was based on the need for stability, unity, cohesion and the conscious need for power balancing in the country, above all, the security and progress of the nation. I want to assure you that whatever we do in the Senate is always guided by national interest, unity, peace and progress of Nigeria," Mark stated.The Senate after a prolonged debate that lasted for two days behind closed door had on Wednesday directed President Yar'Adua to formally notify the National Assembly of his search for medical care outside the country.

Source: Shagari, Gowon, Shonekan, Kutigi, others ask Yar'Adua to hand over

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