The Nigerian Senate, the upper chamber of parliament in the West African country, will continue a debate today on what action to take concerning the extended health-related absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
The Senate met yesterday in a session that was closed to members of the public because of the “sensitive nature” of the discussion, Ayogu Eze, spokesman for the house told reporters last night in the capital, Abuja.
The “discussion will continue” today to allow everyone to contribute to the debate, said Eze, who declined to disclose what was discussed. Last week, the Senate also shut out the public when it interviewed Yayale Ahmed, the Secretary to the Government, on Yar’Adua’s health.
Yar’Adua, 58, was flown to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 23 for treatment of a heart condition without transferring power to vice President Goodluck Jonathan. In his first public speech since he was flown out, Yar’Adua told the British Broadcasting Corp. on Jan. 12 that he was recovering and would soon return to the country. He did not give a specific date.
The resulting power vacuum is creating tension, leading to fears of a military takeover in the country, Africa’s top oil producer, army General Abdulrahman Danbazau said, according to the Associated Press.
On Jan. 22, a federal high court ordered the cabinet to determine whether Yar’Adua is unfit to continue to discharge his duties as head of Africa’s top oil producer.
Opposition parties and rights activists marched in Abuja, the capital, on Jan. 12 to demand the president cede power to Jonathan.