There are indications that Nigerian state governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), may meet the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday to urge the lawmakers to pass a resolution installing the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.
The meeting is sequel to the resolution of the governors at their meeting, last week in Abuja, to send a delegation to the National Assembly on the matter.
The governors, in a communiqué signed by its chairman, Bukola Saraki, after the emergency meeting said: "The Forum calls on all arms of governments to continue to give full and total support to the Acting President until the President returns in the interest of our dear and beloved country, Nigeria.
"The Forum also resolved to meet the leadership of the National Assembly with a view to urging them to pass a resolution to formally recognise the Vice President as the Acting President in the interest of the nation."
NEXT gathered that governors who would represent their colleagues at the meeting stayed back in Abuja over the weekend in anticipation of the meeting.
A source said the NGF has already intimated the Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole of its visit.
Paul Mumeh, the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, however, said the visit of the governors is not on the itinerary of Mr. Mark for this week.
Special Adviser to the Speaker on Communications, Kayode Odunaro, could not confirm to NEXT when the governors would be meeting with his boss.
State of the nation
Mr. Odunaro said such visits are not put on the itinerary of the Speaker because of the state of the nation.
"I can't tell you now if the governors' planned visit is on the itinerary or not. These days, because of the state of the nation, people come to see the Speaker even without long notice," he said.
"You recall that when former President Shehu Shagari came with some eminent Nigerians, and even the former Senate President, there was no notice. Because of the current situation in the country, they can come in anytime. But by Monday (today), the picture will be clear as to the visit."
The Senate had, three weeks ago, urged Mr. Yar'Adua to invoke section 145 of the constitution and hand over powers to Mr. Jonathan, pending his return from Saudi Arabia where he has been receiving treatment in the last 77 days.
On its part, the House of Representatives last week threw out a motion which urged the President to write the National Assembly on his health vacation.
It has, last month, constituted a six-member delegation to visit Mr. Yar'Adua in Saudi Arabia. Members of the delegation only got visas last Wednesday.


Reader Comments (21)
post a comment
* = Required information