No vacancy in Aso Rock

By Festus Owete

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday said that the office of the president is not vacant, despite President Umaru Yar’Adua’s poor health.

The party also said it is not contemplating any plan to persuade Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan or any of its elected office holders to resign as a result of the president’s health.

There were reports at the weekend that some unnamed people were mounting pressure on Mr. Jonathan to resign just in case Mr. Yar’Adua becomes too incapacitated by ill-health.

But a statement by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Rufai Alkali said there is no crisis that required the resignation of any of its elected officials.

The statement accused members of the opposition parties of creating unnecessary tension and hype over the medical checkup currently being undertaken by Mr Yar’Adua in a Saudi hospital.

“We consider it particularly shocking that some Nigerians have chosen to over-sensationalise the situation and magnify it out of proportion in order to satisfy their selfish prejudices,” Mr Alkali said.

“Under normal circumstances, even in politics, we owe it a moral duty to each other as human beings to wish our fellow human beings well, irrespective of the extent of differences that may exist. Regrettably, recent events in the country have shown that for some Nigerian politicians, this is not so.

Banal sophistry

“We also wish to advise those working themselves into frenzy on the basis of an illusionary vacancy in the Presidency to calm down and pray for the peace and stability of the country rather than dissipate energy on a wild goose chase” he said. The party said it has reports that the president’s condition is improving “steadily” and will soon return to his office.

The ruling party also prayed God “for the safe return of the President and that the Almighty God touches the hearts of those peddling these rumours to repent from their evil ways.” It also said that it is unacceptable that some politicians are bringing ‘undue and banal sophistry’ in the name of an imaginary succession crisis in Nigeria.

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Reader Comments (11)

Posted by TATA on Dec 01 2009

'undue and banal sophistry’ dogo turenchi...when hausaman begin blow grammmar, then he has something to hide..

Posted by Chibest.A on Dec 01 2009

MORALITY MY FOOT!WHERE CAN IT BE FOUND IN THE "FEE-DEE-FEE'S" VAMPIRE LEXICON.NIGERIANS KNOWS WELL ENOUGH THAT THERE HAS BEEN GRUESOME VACANCY IN ASO ROCK SINCE 2007.THE FRAIL AILING MAN,A JACK OF ALL SEVEN POINT AGENDAS AND MASTER OF NON,WAS FOIST ON US BY OBASANJO AS A PUNISHMENT FOR PUTTING "SAN-SAN" IN HIS THIRD TERM "AMALA AND EWEDU".IT IS EVIL TO HAVE BEEN GAMBLING WITH THE LIVES AND DESTINIES OF 15O MILLION OF NIGERIANS WITH A GROUNDED SICK MAN.

Posted by Nuel on Dec 01 2009

No vacancy...in Aso Rock? Hmmmm...only time will tell.

Posted by Emenike Ogu. on Dec 01 2009

I call on Ogun,Amadioha and all the gods of our Land to punish that shameless general from ottah.Umoru,though I wish you a quick recovery,but if you happen to kick the bucket from this illness,make sure that you take him along with you,may he never have peace neither here nor yonder.

Posted by Mr. Goody Goody on Dec 01 2009

With Churg-Strauss Syndrome the vacancy shall be, sooner than later. The Alkalis of this world should tell him the home truth: resign and take care of your health. It is a duty he owes to himself, family and country.

Posted by Kanu on Dec 01 2009

The PDP should not believe that because Nigerians do not have a hand in choosing their desirable leaders (which is our constitutional right), that they will also manipulate or insult our intelligence. Obasanjo and his foot soldiers may have succeeded in installing and manipulating at will our leaders, but please note that we are well informed and armed to the teeth with knowledge."Alkali" or is it "Acid" is not fooling anyone with his ochestrated show of moral health but himself of course! We know the truth, we stand by it.

Posted by teejones on Dec 01 2009

@tata,where is Segun Adeniyi in all of these? and who is this Alkali man opening his mouth to insult the sensibility of over 100million nigerians? u've said it all...... dogon turanci! God bless us and our country.

Posted by BIG BOSS on Dec 01 2009

Please think ahead. There is also no vacancy in 2011 and 2015. Goodluck for President

Posted by Onome on Dec 01 2009

@ Mr. Goody Goody. To get the best medical care, he must remain President.

Posted by man angel on Dec 01 2009

i wish our president well, but i prayed GOD to do what is best for our great country. God is interested in the success of NIGERIA. Let's keep hoping.

Posted by TATA on Dec 01 2009

@teejones...thanks for recognising me as a pdp stalwart and insider...adeniyi, is NOT a pdp member and speaks for the kwara wing of the presidency, alkali is of course the secretary of pdp, but speaks for the katsina wing, dandoka, the agf speaks for the minority delta wing of the pdp, while akinluyi as usual, being eboe, has been left out of the circuit...i cannot tell you more i have to answer a call from saudi arabia...