| Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday dismissed calls for the commencement of the process of removing President Umar Musa Yar’Adua from office following his ongoing treatment at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, PANA reported.
The Council, at the end of its 46th meeting presided over by Vice President Good luck Jonathan, noted that there was no basis for calls for the resignation of Yar’Adua for the reason that the President had not been found incapable of discharging his functions on the grounds of ill-health. It also noted that all organs of government were fully functional and assured that government would continue to deliver on its responsibilities. The FEC statutorily comprises the President, Vice President, all the ministers (42), Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), Chief Economic Adviser to the President and the National Security Adviser (NSA). Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili said, ‘the FEC at its 46th meeting held Wednesday took notice of calls by some people for the invocation of the provisions of Section 144 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for Mr. President to resign his appointment on the ground of ill-health. ‘Council, having reviewed all the facts on ground, unanimously resolved that there is no basis for the invocation of the provisions of Section 144 of the Constitution, for the reason that the President has not been found incapable of discharging his functions. ‘Council wishes to inform all Nigerians that all organs of government are functioning and that government will continue to deliver,’ said Akunyili, who was flanked by the SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Attorney General and Minister of Justice , Mr. Mike Aondoaaka (SAN), Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Finance Minister, Dr. Mansur Muktar, and Minister of State, Information and Communication, Ikra Bilbis. |
Dec42009