Executive Council backs Jonathan

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed said yesterday that the Executive Council of the Federation will continue to back Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan as he assumes leadership as Acting President.

Mr. Ahmed said the federal government will remain focused on the ideals of constitutionalism and part of the council’s decision to keep the system running is to support the Vice President.

He stated this when he received the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Affairs,

Ambassador Johnnie Carson in his office in Abuja.

Mr. Ahmed who spoke about the integrity and value of democracy expressed his appreciation for the goodwill messages from the US leader and the Secretary of state, Hilary Clinton.

“It is particularly touching that President Obama has recognised and acknowledged the pain of the wife and family of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, over his hospitalization in Saudi Arabia” he said.

Crack in the council

Following a memo presented by the Minister of Information and Communication, Dora Akunyili, last week, urging her colleagues to acknowledge that the president is gravely ill, a visible crack has emerged in the cabinet. Mrs Akunyili yesterday threatened to sue the nation’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice Michael aondoakaa for character defamation.

In a release from the ministry, Mrs Akunyili gave Mr. Aondoakaa seven days to refute what was described as a ‘libellous statement’ against her person.

Mr Aondoakaa in a report by a national newspaper on the 8th of February allegedly said that Mrs Akunyili of trying to make herself an angel and a cheap hero and wants to be seen as a populist. “Let her go confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC” the minister was quoted to have said.

According to the statement from the Ministry of Information and Communication, Mrs Akunyili said he either refutes the statement or face prosecution.