Eminent Elders Group (EEG)
chaired by former Head of
State, General Yakubu
Gowon yesterday stormed
the National Assembly
demanding strict observance
of Section 145 of the 1999
Constitution by ailing
President Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua. The demand
followed what the eminent
Nigerians described as
“critical review of the
general political situation in
the country.”
In a letter signed by General
Gowon (retd) which was
presented separately to the
President of the Senate,
David Mark and Speaker of
the House of
Representatives, Honourable
Dimeji Bankole, by former
President Alhaji Shehu
Shagari on behalf of General
Gowon, the EEG while
endorsing the position of the
Senate on the continued
absence of President,
equally insisted that he
(Yar’Adua) should as soon
as possible communicate with
the National Assembly on his
medical vacation.
Part of the content of the
letter of the EEG states; “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 EEG members therefore
urged the House of
Representatives to take a
cue from the resolution of
the Senate on the matter,
adding that as elder
statesmen, they were
concerned about the
unfolding scenario on
account of the ill-health of
President Yar’Adua and thus
decided to offer advice on
the way forward.
According to Alhaji Shagari;
“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
to resolutions.”
Alhaji Shagari therefore
urged the present leaders in
the country to heed the
advice to prevent escalation
of the crisis.
The group further stressed
that it was important to
resolve the issue by inviting
President Yar’Adua to
formally issue the necessary
communication that would
enable the vice president to
be an acting president in
accordance with section 145
of the 1999 Constitution as
soon as possible.
According to General Gowon;
“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
Representatives.”
The Eminent Elders Group
noted that for well over
eight weeks, the President
had been ill and out of the
country, adding that his
absence and long absence
from the country had been
causing serious concern not
only to Nigerian citizens but
all those who did business
with Nigeria and had the
wellbeing of the country at
heart.
General Gowon said that it
was for that reason that he
called the meeting of some
former presidents and heads
of State, former chief
justices of Nigeria and elder
statesmen.
Responding, President of the
Senate, David Mark said the
decision of the upper
chamber of the National
Assembly on the matter was
anchored on national
interest, security, peace,
unity and stability of the
nation.
Senator Mark further said
the wisdom of the elder
statesmen would benefit all
Nigerians, adding that the
decision of the Senate was
based on the need for power
balancing in the country and,
above all, the security of the
nation.
The visit of the EEG to the
office of the Speaker of the
House of Representatives
was, however, held in closed
doors but immediately after
the presentation of the
letter, the Speaker saw the
former leaders and eminent
elders to their waiting
vehicles.
Members of the Eminent
Elders Group include General
Yakubu Gowon, former head
of state; Alhaji Shehu
Shagari, former president;
Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former
vice president; Justice
Mohammed Uwais, former
chief justice Justice Alfa
Belgore, former chief justice;
Justice Idris kutigi, former
chief justice Lt. Gen. T. Y.
Danjuma, former minister;
Chief Solomon D. Lar, former
minister; Chief Edwin Clark,
former minister; Mallam
Adamu Ciroma, former
minister; Alhaji Ahmed Joda
former federal permanent
secretary; Prof. Jerry Gana,
former minister and
facilitator as well as
Jonathan S. Zwingina,
senator and facilitator.
September 12, 2009, 05:04:51 AM