The big power play since Wednesday’s sudden but surprise return to Nigeria of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua captured newspaper headlines this week.
Nigerians woke up Wednesday to the breaking story of the ailing president virtually “smuggled” into the country on the wee hours of the day — first flown in with an ambulance plane and ferried in an ambulance truck to his residence in Aso Rock, Abuja, the Nigerian Federal capital, under serious security cover.
Since then, a big power struggle has erupted with Yar’Adua’s aides issuing all sorts of statements, credited to the President, who is yet to be seen or heard by Nigerians.
One of such statements said Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, empowered by the National Assembly to function as Acting President following Yar’Adua’s long absence from governance (away in Saudi Arabia to seek medical treatment to his heart condition for about three months without legally transferring power to Jonathan), would continue to act for the President.
Even attempts by Acting President Jonathan to physically see his boss were turne d down by Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua (the president’s wife) and other aides, sparking speculations that the president’s condition might even be worse than thought.
“Yar’Adua: Jonathan is Acting President,” He has access to Yar’Adua’s medi cal report, says Adeniyi”, were the headline stories in the privately-owned This day on Friday.
According to the paper, the confusion over who really is in charge after the sudden return of Yar’Adua after 93 days seems to have been cleared.
Dr. Jonathan remains the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for as long as President Yar’Adua is indisposed, the Presidency said Thursday in what seemed a volte-face.
An official statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Olusegun Adeniyi, had pointedly referred to Jonathan as Vice-President, though he would ‘continue to oversee the affairs of the state.’
That reference to Jonathan as Vice-President had raised controversy in many quar ters.
On Thursday, the Punch newspaper carried a series of headlines — “Yar’Adua’s return throws presidency into confusion”, “Don’t use return to destabilize Nigeria, US warns Yar’Adua’s aides”, “Why Yar’Adua was rushed back home ” I nvestigation”, “Jonathan reasserts position as Acting President”, “President mus t address nation to assess his fitness ” NBA”.
The Guardian on Thursday reported, under the headline “Confusion in Aso Rock, Jonathan says ‘ship of state on course’, Acting President yet to see President”, that amidst widespread doubts, fears and misgivings over the purported return of Yar’Adua, in the dead of the night, indications are that, at best, the country may have only graduated from absentee Presidency to a phantom alternative.
Over 16 hours (by Thursday) after the President’s alleged return, not even the Acting President had set eyes on him. Jonathan was reported to be making efforts to see Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai, as part of the process of seeing his boss.
The Daily Independent on Thursday headlined its story “Confusion Trails Yar’Adua’s Return, President Fails To Attend EXCOF Meeting, Continue Performing State Duties, He Tells Jonathan, We’re Not Aware Of His Return, Say Senators, and Yar’Adua’s Return May Fuel Uncertainty ” US.”
According to the paper, true to prediction, the return of President Yar’Adua from a three-month medical treatment in Saudi Arabia is creating ripples and confusion in Aso Rock, coupled with his refusal to recognise his Deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, as Acting President.
Yar’Adua is still indisposed and has admitted that he cannot perform the functions of his office.
Senators said they have not been officially informed of his return and a chorus of opinion leaders ” among them the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) ” insisted on Wednesday that Jonathan remains Acti ng President.
America warned that Yar’Adua’s return, while unable to carry out his duties as President, could fuel uncertainty.
In another twist to the Yar’Adua story, The Sun on Saturday screamed “Yar’Adua crippled, President Can’t stand, Can’t eat, Can’t talk”, “Crack in Yar’Adua’s camp and Aides give condition for continued support”.
It reported that cracks had emerged in the camp of ailing President Yar’Adua, as his aides are demanding to be told the truth about his state of health as a condition for continued support.
A highly reliable source close to the Yar’Adua family confirmed that presidential aides are not happy that since the return of their boss to the country on Wednesday, none of them has seen him, including Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who has been managing the affairs of the country in his absence.