President Jonathan
• Govs endorse VP as acting
president
• Guild of Editors also
From LUCKY NWANKWERE,
Abuja
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Goodluck
Barely five hours after they
rose from their meeting in
Abuja, in the early hours of
yesterday, governors
stormed Aso Rock to formally
register their support for the
clamour that Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan take over
full presidential authority, in
acting capacity and also
pledge their loyalty.
The governors, who were
led by the chairman of the
Governors ’ Forum and Kwara
State governor, Dr. Bukola
Saraki, met with the vice
president for more than one
hour.
Governor Saraki said the
governors were resolved
that the vice president
should be supported by all to
assume the reigns of power,
as acting president,
reiterating their
determination to get the
National Assembly to come up
with a resolution to that
effect to end the confusion in
the country.
“ We associate ourselves
with the court ruling that has
been given, concerning the
president and the vice
president and that we also
agreed to meet with the
leadership of the National
Assembly to urge them to
pass a resolution
recognizing the vice
president as the acting
president of the nation, ” he
stated.
Governor of Akwa Ibom
State, Chief Godswill Akpabio,
said the governors
unanimously resolved that all
arms of government should
support the vice president to
discharge his duties, as
acting president of the
country, refuting the
allegation that the northern
governors were not
supportive of the resolution.
“ It is not true that northern
governors said Jonathan
should not act as president.
The northern governors are
part of the Governors ’
Forum and there was no
dissenting voice, ” he said,
adding that the vice
president welcomed the
governors ’ effort at dousing
tension generated by the
issue across the country.
“ He was happy with the
decision of the governors,
that yes, while we are
praying for the president to
recover there is need for a
more assertive action and
for us to bring all these
publications in Nigeria to an
end, ” he stated.
On his part, Governor Liyel
Imoke of Cross River State
said: “We believe that at this
point in time, it is necessary
that appropriate actions be
taken and solutions be found
to what appears to be a
problem of the existence of a
vacuum.
“I don’t share the view of
the existence of a vacuum,
because the vice-president
clearly has the same number
of votes as the president;
they enjoy a joint mandate.
In the event that the
transmission does not occur,
certain actions can be taken
to guarantee the stability of
the nation, ” he added.
Earlier, Vice President
Jonathan expressed
surprise over the visit. He,
in a jovial manner, likened it
to a coup.
August 02, 2010, 03:52:20 PM