Nigerians march to demand ailing leader's appearance

By Joe Brock


March 10, 2010 01:50PM
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Hundreds of Nigerians gathered in the capital Abuja on Wednesday for a march to the presidency to demand the appearance of ailing leader Umaru Yar'Adua, two weeks after he returned from a Saudi hospital.




The 58-year-old leader has not been seen in public since being flown back after three months of treatment in Jeddah for a heart condition. There have been no announcements on his health but presidency sources say he remains in intensive care.

His return while still too frail to govern raised fears that his inner circle of aides, led by his wife Turai, would fight to maintain their influence over Africa's most populous nation and seek to undermine Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

A power struggle at the top of the OPEC member nation of 140 million people could bring paralysis in government decision-making, threatening an amnesty programme in the oil-producing Niger Delta and stalling momentum on reforms.

Several hundred people, many wearing T-shirts with "Save Nigeria Group" on the front and "Enough is Enough" on the back, gathered near to a city centre hotel under the watch of police officers lining the avenue.

"We want the invisible president to be revoked. We are tired of a president we can't see, who can't govern. We want to see him," Babatunde Ogala, a politician from the commercial capital Lagos, told the gathering crowd.

"If we can't see him we want someone else who is allowed to govern. Why is a cabal controlling our country," he said.

Officials organising the march said they planned to walk to Aso Rock, the presidential villa, and hand a letter of protest to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who co-ordinates between the presidency and government ministries.

"Turai, leave Nigeria alone" and "Jonathan get decisive now" were among the banners held up above the crowd.

A police spokesman addressed the protesters, pledging that the security forces were there to protect them and would help them carry their message "in a peaceful manner". He said officers were not carrying tear gas or weapons.

Such political demonstrations are relatively rare in Nigeria, where the vast majority of people get by on $2 a day or less and feel politics is a game played by multi-millionaires whose outcome has little effect on their daily lives.

Similar marches in recent months have passed peacefully.

Should Yar'Adua be formally declared too sick to govern, or resign or die, Jonathan would be sworn in as head of state and complete the unexpired presidential term, which runs to May next year, with a new vice president.

The demonstrators are also demanding electoral reforms to avoid the sort of chaos seen in the 2007 polls which brought Yar'Adua to power, a vote so marred by ballot-stuffing and intimidation that observers said it was not credible.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5538411-146/nigerians_march_to_demand_ailing_leaders.csp

can this march be more frequent?

Inasmuch as i like what they are doing, i think the reason behind the march was not necessary, this is like pulling us backward.
We already have an acting president and we trying to move the nation forward, but demanding for invisible president, what for?
they could have marched to ask for the heads of the killers at Jos, i would have understand that one

DEMOCRACY IS GOOD. PEOPLE CAN PROTEST ON WHAT THEY WANT TO PROTEST ABOUT.

OTHER GROUPS CAN DO WHAT YOU SAID, SOMEONE ORGANISED THIS ONE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

The secretary to government of the federation, Yayale Ahmed, on behalf of Jonathan, received the demands of the activists which included the dissolution of the cabinet, divided over the health of Yar'Adua.

"The acting president has asked me to assure you that your demands will be looked into with immediate effect. You want to know the status of health of the president, You will not be denied of it," Ahmed told the protesters.

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=africa&item=100310131452.xhmh76oi.php

[size=14pt]Is this not a solid result?
. . .And to think that some clowns were talking down Aisha2 when she brought the campaign to NL. Shame.[/size]

Nigerians are always fearful of acting, yet they want the best miracles.

asscend:

DEMOCRACY IS GOOD. PEOPLE CAN PROTEST ON WHAT THEY WANT TO PROTEST ABOUT.

OTHER GROUPS CAN DO WHAT YOU SAID, SOMEONE ORGANISED THIS ONE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

So why asking for a man that said, he wanna get better and that the Acting President could go ahead with his leadership?

@ Fhemmy,
Im not sure I agree with you. Nigeria is on a very fragile stone at the moment. We have not moved forward at all from when Yaradua was in Jeddah and now that Jonathan is acting V.P.  If it was that straight forward, I am certain Turai would have handed over power now (I believe she's the one hanging on). As long as the Yaradua by law has not handed over the presidency position to Jonathan, anything can still happen and that is what they are trying to tell Jonathan, that he shouldn't feel too comfortable. Did you hear Aondoakka and Segun Adeniyi addressing him as the Vice President?

What if tomorow, someone goes to court and gets a ruling that since the president did not transmit a letter to the national assembly, then they did not have the power to make Jonathan acting President? And you know its Naija, you can get any ruling as long as you have the right number of Ghana must Go.

All the SNG is asking for and all Nigerians are asking for is that the right thing should be done. The president is incapacitated and should do the right thing by handing over. Do they want to hang on till 2011? Jonathan must be given full powers and thus we can then hold him responsible for his actions.

Fhemmmy:

So why asking for a man that said, he wanna get better and that the Acting President could go ahead with his leadership?

No one is asking for him. He is not a private man. He is the president of the Federal Republic. We all know Obama medical records, same thing even with the Egyptian president. So why can we not know that of our president? Let them show us that he is still capable to rule us and if not, let him hand over!

proudly9ja:

@ Fhemmy,
Im not sure I agree with you. Nigeria is on a very fragile stone at the moment. We have not moved forward at all from when Yaradua was in Jeddah and now that Jonathan is acting V.P.  If it was that straight forward, I am certain Turai would have handed over power now (I believe she's the one hanging on). As long as the Yaradua by law has not handed over the presidency position to Jonathan, anything can still happen and that is what they are trying to tell Jonathan, that he shouldn't feel too comfortable. Did you hear Aondoakka and Segun Adeniyi addressing him as the Vice President?

What if tomorow, someone goes to court and gets a ruling that since the president did not transmit a letter to the national assembly, then they did not have the power to make Jonathan acting President? And you know its Naija, you can get any ruling as long as you have the right number of Ghana must Go.

All the SNG is asking for and all Nigerians are asking for is that the right thing should be done. The president is incapacitated and should do the right thing by handing over. Do they want to hang on till 2011? Jonathan must be given full powers and thus we can then hold him responsible for his actions.

We have a law and i am sure in our law there are provision to impeach a president, if the law breakers makers refuse to use it, then, we cant just be making Yaradua to be more important and influential that he is.
The man came back and "he" said that he wanna get better and that Jonathan shd go ahead in the office . . .so what else.
We need to move forward and not just keep asking for his whereabout.

proudly9ja:

No one is asking for him. He is not a private man. He is the president of the Federal Republic. We all know Obama medical records, same thing even with the Egyptian president. So why can we not know that of our president? Let them show us that he is still capable to rule us and if not, let him hand over!

If they want the record, that is different.
He is not a private man, he is the president, but at present we have an acting, cos PRESIDENT IS GETTING BETTER, presently, "he" is not in charge.
Jonathan has been calling the shot for the last couple of weeks and yaradua has not said anything, so let us leave it at that.

Fhemmmy:

We have a law and i am sure in our law there are provision to impeach a president, if the law breakers makers refuse to use it, then, we cant just be making Yaradua to be more important and influential that he is.
The man came back and "he" said that he wanna get better and that Jonathan shd go ahead in the office . . .so what else.
We need to move forward and not just keep asking for his whereabout.

You see, that's the point. The point is we cannot move forward if the right things are not done. Its like someone building a house without a foundation. If the law breakers () refuse to do the right thing, we must FORCE them to because we voted them in to do what is best for us not what is best for them. That's the point of the protest.

EGYPT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT YARADUA LEFT IN A HURRY SO HE COULD NOT HAND OVER. (HE WAS  TOO SICK)

THE SENATE DID THE RIGHT THING.

THERE ARE CORRUPT PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION

SUCH ONES ARE TO BE FISHED OUT AND JAILED.

EVEN IF YARADUA COMES BACK HE SHOULD BE QUESTIONED IN THE SENATE AND IN MY OPINION IMPEACHED FOR HAVING CORRUPT ADVISERS WHO KEPT LIEING TO THE NATION.

YARADU IS INDIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SITUATION; REMEMBER HE EMPLOYED THOSE CRIMINALS.

asscend:

DEMOCRACY IS GOOD. PEOPLE CAN PROTEST ON WHAT THEY WANT TO PROTEST ABOUT.

OTHER GROUPS CAN DO WHAT YOU SAID, SOMEONE ORGANISED THIS ONE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

Simple and to the point. If anyone thinks there are better things to protest about then go start your own protest with your own objectives and stop relying on others to do it for you.

Fhemmmy:

We have a law and i am sure in our law there are provision to impeach a president, if the law breakers makers refuse to use it, then, we cant just be making Yaradua to be more important and influential that he is.
The man came back and "he" said that he wanna get better and that Jonathan shd go ahead in the office . . .so what else.
We need to move forward and not just keep asking for his whereabout.

Can you confirm that Umaru Musa YarAdua Said that?
secondly, when did it become what is said by a president that is binding? A writen document is what the constitution demands, we can not be ruled on hearsay

proudly9ja:

You see, that's the point. The point is we cannot move forward if the right things are not done. Its like someone building a house without a foundation. If the law breakers () refuse to do the right thing, we must FORCE them to because we voted them in to do what is best for us not what is best for them. That's the point of the protest.

All these law breakers are representing some constituents, so people could find a way to make sure they do something and not going to Jonathan.
Jonathan cant do anything.

Fhemmmy:

If they want the record, that is different.
He is not a private man, he is the president, but at present we have an acting, cos PRESIDENT IS GETTING BETTER, presently, "he" is not in charge.
Jonathan has been calling the shot for the last couple of weeks and yaradua has not said anything, so let us leave it at that.

lol Fhemmy,
Yaradua has been 'getting better' since November when he left for Jeddah. Infact, shortly before he was 'air ambulanced' home from KSA, he was drinking Kunu with his wife and just last week, he was climbing stairs. Im sure he'l be back to playing Badmington next week.

Guy, I am sure we both have Nigeria's interest at heart. We shouldn't let these guys continue to take us for a ride. If we did not shout out, the president will still be in KSA and Turai signing docs in the name of the president. If we stop shouting, this guy will go for second term and rule us while drinking kunu.

aisha2:

Can you confirm that Umaru Musa YarAdua Said that?
secondly, when did it become what is said by a president that is binding? A writen document is what the constitution demands, we can not be ruled on hearsay

Can u confirm that all people has said about Turai is true?
Can u confirm that Yaradua never said it?
A statement was released when yaradua came back, and as long as it was said to have been given by Yaradua, cos his aide was the one that read it then.
My point is, the law is what needed to be used to get rid of the guy and the law breakers were all elected by the people to represent them, so why let them off the hook and march to Jonathan?

proudly9ja:

lol Fhemmy,
Yaradua has been 'getting better' since November when he left for Jeddah. Infact, shortly before he was 'air ambulanced' home from KSA, he was drinking Kunu with his wife and just last week, he was climbing stairs. Im sure he'l be back to playing Badmington next week.

Guy, I am sure we both have Nigeria's interest at heart. We shouldn't let these guys continue to take us for a ride. If we did not shout out, the president will still be in KSA and Turai signing docs in the name of the president. If we stop shouting, this guy will go for second term and rule us while drinking kunu.

Chief, yaradua, could be dead for all you know and to be honest with you, i think we are giving that family too much attention, when ever constituent should be after the law breakers that are representing them at Aso rock

Fhemmmy:

So why asking for a man that said, he wanna get better and that the Acting President could go ahead with his leadership?

Can people stop spewing this gossip, it is getting ridiculous. You knew president Yar Adua said 'he wants to get better' because? Really please, do tell. You are sure of anything Yar Adua has said since last November how? Did you see a letter? Did you hear him on the radio? Did you watch an interview? Who has seen Yar Adua since last November? Yar Adua did not hand over to Johnathan.

Fhemmmy:

All these law breakers are representing some constituents, so people could find a way to make sure they do something and not going to Jonathan.
Jonathan cant do anything.

Yes, some people can go to the law makers representing their constituency, some people can protest in front of the Senate building, and some people can protest at Aso Rock. These guys have chosen their own spots, let us choose ours!

@skyblue, can u post the list of senators and their email addresses again? Time to send some letters!

asscend:

EGYPT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT YARADUA LEFT IN A HURRY SO HE COULD NOT HAND OVER. (HE WAS  TOO SICK)

THE SENATE DID THE RIGHT THING.

THERE ARE CORRUPT PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION

SUCH ONES ARE TO BE FISHED OUT AND JAILED.

EVEN IF YARADUA COMES BACK HE SHOULD BE QUESTIONED IN THE SENATE AND IN MY OPINION IMPEACHED FOR HAVING CORRUPT ADVISERS WHO KEPT LIEING TO THE NATION.

YARADU IS INDIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SITUATION; REMEMBER HE EMPLOYED THOSE CRIMINALS.

With all the awareness around, people still type in all CAPS. Abeg stop it na.

Sky Blue:

Can people stop spewing this gossip, it is getting ridiculous. You knew president Yar Adua said 'he wants to get better' because? Really please, do tell. You are sure of anything Yar Adua has said since last November how? Did you see a letter? Did you hear him on the radio? Did you watch an interview? Who has seen Yar Adua since last November? Yar Adua did not hand over to Johnathan.

You mean the aide of Yaradua that read the note was giving rumors?
I remember how his speech was analyzed them when he refereed to Jonathan as the Vice President and not the Acting President, and now all of a sudden, it was a rumor, how come, we always blv things for our convenience?

proudly9ja:

Yes, some people can go to the law makers representing their constituency, some people can protest in front of the Senate building, and some people can protest at Aso Rock. These guys have chosen their own spots, let us choose ours!

@skyblue, can u post the list of senators and their email addresses again? Time to send some letters!

You have a point there, and i do agree with you.
But it is just make me sick that we paying too much attention to yaradua family, when we ought to be chasing the law breakers

Fhemmmy:

You mean the aide of Yaradua that read the note was giving rumors?
I remember how his speech was analyzed them when he refereed to Jonathan as the Vice President and not the Acting President, and now all of a sudden, it was a rumor, how come, we always blv things for our convenience?

We are giving the family the attention because it is the first family and until that changes, we will continue to give them attention.

Also they have told us they cannot impeach him based on his health and only the FEC has the power to declare him incapacitated. The SNG went to Aso villa today to make our views as NIgerians known to the FEC head (Acting president). I don't see anything wrong in that.

Fhemmmy:

You mean the aide of Yaradua that read the note was giving rumors?
I remember how his speech was analyzed them when he refereed to Jonathan as the Vice President and not the Acting President, and now all of a sudden, it was a rumor, how come, we always blv things for our convenience?

If Yar Adua is not incapacitated why do we have to be hearing from his aides? Why? Whenever anything worthy of note happens you see world leaders setting up a press conference ASAP to speak to the people that elected them there. Even after the whole Abdulmatallab thing, adding to terrorist list, etc, we still haven't heard from the president. If in the absence of evidence, you cannot be sure that Yar Adua himself said or wrote those things, why on earth would you build arguements on such shaky premises?

proudly9ja:

We are giving the family the attention because it is the first family and until that changes, we will continue to give them attention.

Also they have told us they cannot impeach him based on his health and only the FEC has the power to declare him incapacitated. The SNG went to Aso villa today to make our views as NIgerians known to the FEC head (Acting president). I don't see anything wrong in that.

Who are the they?
Was it Jonathan?
So we need to march and disrupt all activities of those they.
The more you give the Yaradua family attention, the more they feel more important.

Sky Blue:

[b]If Yar Adua is not incapacitated why do we have to be hearing from his aides? [/b]Why? Whenever anything worthy of note happens you see world leaders setting up a press conference ASAP to speak to the people that elected them there. Even after the whole Abdulmatallab thing, adding to terrorist list, etc, we still haven't heard from the president. If in the absence of evidence, you cannot be sure that Yar Adua himself said or wrote those things, why on earth would you build arguements on such shaky premises?

Read me well, i never said he is not, for all you know, the dude was long dead and we dont know.
But the fact that his aid read a memo from him and said, he wanna get better and that Jonathan is in charge, let us attack the offices of the law breakers, cos they are the one that has refused to invoke the part of our law that cld have send him packing.
Jonathan's hands are tight . . . . he cant force force a man that he cant see to do anything.

aisha2, I am glad this thing went on and am only sorry I was not around to attend. Whenever you want to make a stand in Nigeria, it is best to just ignore certain comments and I am glad you did. For those who are not able to be there now, here are links containing lists of all senators and house of rep members, with their contact info. Enough with all the pontificating and "intelligent discourse", let us stop being cowardly. Do something as simple as calling up your reps. If we all did it you think there wouldn't be pressure?

http://www.nassnig.org/senate/members.php       - for senators

http://www.nassnig.org/house/members.php        - for house of rep members

the house of reps and senate are a bunch of gutless redundant twats. they invoked a 'doctrine of necessity' out of nowhere because it was expedient. a simple solution to calm the polity. its 2weeks and they have no agenda to solving the major problem.

Fhemmmy:

Read me well, i never said he is not, for all you know, the dude was long dead and we dont know.
But the fact that his aid read a memo from him and said, he wanna get better and that Jonathan is in charge, let us attack the offices of the law breakers, cos they are the one that has refused to invoke the part of our law that cld have send him packing.
Jonathan's hands are tight . . . . he cant force force a man that he cant see to do anything.

Why the fascination with Johnathan? Is everything done meant to be an attack on Johnathan?

Sky Blue:

aisha2, I am glad this thing went on and am only sorry I was not around to attend. Whenever you want to make a stand in Nigeria, it is best to just ignore certain comments and I am glad you did. For those who are not able to be there now, here are links containing lists of all senators and house of rep members, with their contact info. Enough with all the pontificating and "intelligent disourse", let us stop being cowardly. Do some,thing as simple as calling up your reps. If we all did it you think there wouldn't be pressure?

http://www.nassnig.org/senate/members.php       - for senators

http://www.nassnig.org/house/members.php        - for house of rep members

They did well, and if i was in Nigeria, i will surely be part of such march, but i will rather have us visit those paid law breakers
thanks for the links

Sky Blue:

Why the fascination with Johnathan? Is everything done meant to be an attack on Johnathan?

My guy, i careless about all these dude. . . . Even Jonathan, they are all rogues.