The return of President Yar'Adua to the country in the wee hours of today, reportedly in an air ambulance, is a matter that calls for deep concern amongst Nigerians. The obvious reason for this hurried return, when it is clear that he has not fully recovered, is to create an atmosphere that will make it impossible for Goodluck Jonathan to effectively take charge of the affairs of State, and a cabal to continue to run the country by proxy. This is because, even when it has been said that Jonathan will continue to run government, the presence of the ailing President around him will be enough to distabilise him and make him tentative in his decisions. It may also lead to an unnnecesary power tussle between loyalists of Jonathan and Yar'Adua and this will divide the Presidency and further polarise the country. The Ministers will be unsure as to where their loyalty should lie, and this will distrupt the business of government.


Nigeria cannot afford to have a tentative President at this time. While Nigerians wish him quick and effective recovery, the return of Yar'Adua does not put an end to the call for him to resign or be removed due to his health condition. The issue is not whether Yar'Adua returns or not. The issue is whether he can effectively run the country with his fragile health, and whether Nigerians should continue to be subjected to this uncertainty about the health of their President. Nigerian cannot afford to wait with bathed breaths each time their President goes for a medical check-up.

I insist that the Federal Executive Council has already declared Yar'Adua incapacitated by adopting the Resolution of the National Assembly which made Goodluck Jonathan Acting President. As a result, I will go ahead with my case which seeks to compel the Senate president to set up a team of doctors in line with section 144 of the 1999 constitution to ascertain the health status of the President.