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From the court room and
street protests, the battle to
fill Nigeria ’s leadership
vacuum is set to hit the
labour scene.
Some unions are planning a
one-day symbolic strike to
force President Umaru
Yar ’Adua to obey the
Constitution, it was learnt
yesterday.
Efforts to enforce President
Yar ’Adua’s compliance with
Section 145 of the
constitution by handing over
power to Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan have
been on. Some trade/labour
unions and lawmakers
pushing for the inauguration
of Jonathan yesterday
concluded plans to hold the
nationwide symbolic strike.
The unions met with pro-
Jonathan lawmakers,
especially members of the
National Interest Group in the
Senate, at a secret location
in Abuja on the format of the
strike.
But, it was learnt, the two
groups have not picked a
date for the action.
A source, who spoke in
confidence, said: "The
struggle to swear in the VP
as acting president has
entered a new phase of
segmented strike.
"We are going to start with a
one-day symbolic strike
which will take place any
moment from now. We have
just concluded discussion
with some groups in the
National Assembly supporting
compliance with the relevant
provisions of the 1999
Constitution.
"The symbolic nationwide
strike is meant to sensitise
Nigerians for subsequent
strikes, which are aimed at
convincing the President to
allow his deputy to act for
him."
The list of the unions that
will participate in the symbolic
strike was kept under wraps
at press time.
Government Secretary
Mahmud Yayale Ahmed
yesterday met with the
President ’s Principal
Secretary, David Edevbie,
over the resolution of the
Senate that President Umaru
Yar ’Adua should send a
medical vacation letter to the
National Assembly.
The Senate had last
Wednesday asked the
President to transmit the
letter to enable Vice
President Goodluck Jonathan
assume office as acting
president.
But, last Friday, a Federal
High Court in Abuja said it
was not mandatory for the
President to write the
National Assembly.
Also last Friday, the Clerk to
the National Assembly, Mr.
Yemi Ogunyomi, sent the
Senate ’s Resolution to the
Presidency.
The SGF and Edevbie met at
about 10am yesterday on
what to do with the letter
from the Senate.
A source in The Presidency
said: "The two officers have
been holding discussions on
what to do with the
resolution of the Senate.
"There are four options
being considered." These
are:
• seeking legal advice from
the Attorney-General of the
Federation, Mr. Michael
Aondoakaa (SAN), in the light
of the court pronouncements;
• sending the resolution to
the President on his sick bed
in Saudi Arabia as the case
with the 2009 Supplementary
Budget;
• allowing the Federal
Executive Council to take a
decision on the resolution;
and
• holding consultations with
the leadership of the Senate
to find a political solution to
the issue in the President ’s
absence.
"It has been difficult to ask
the Vice President, who is a
direct beneficiary of the
resolution, to address the
decision of the Senate.
"So, the SGF and Edevbie
are expected to come up with
an option. Maybe Edevbie
may still go to Saudi Arabia,"
the source said.
But, members of the kitchen
cabinet of the President are
believed to have reached a
conclusion to bring Yar ’Adua
back to Nigeria to reduce the
tension his absence has
caused.
Another source said: "These
kitchen cabinet members felt
that Nigerians have become
sceptical of the court
process and only his return
would erase any doubt in
their mind.
"Instead of sending the
Senate Resolution to Saudi
Arabia, these influential
cabinet members have
reached out to the First
Lady, Hajiya Turai, to bring
back the President.
"The doctors have told the
family that the President is
still not strong enough for a
long haul flight, even in an
air ambulance.
"The kitchen cabinet
members are in a dilemma on
whether to take the risk of
returning the President to
Nigeria or not."
The National Interest Group
(a pro-Jonathan Group in the
Senate) will today meet with
200 members of the House of
Representatives on how to
join forces to ensure
handover to the Vice
President.
A member of the group, who
confided in our
correspondent, said: "We
are meeting today (Tuesday)
with like minds in the House
of Representatives to
streamline our position and
strategy.
"Since we began the struggle
in the Senate, this is the first
time we are having
discussion with our
colleagues in the House."