news
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 3-9, 2010 Page A-2
Global Village
President, vice president
battle for power in Nigeria
By AbdulFattah Olajide
and Mohammed Shehu
Abuja — On the day fol-
lowing President Umaru
Yar’adua’s return to the coun-
try after a 93-day medical trip
to Saudi Arabia, confusion
reigned in the nation’s corri-
dors of power with two power-
ful men engaged in a silent but
titanic struggle for presiden-
tial power.
Although Yar’adua, who re-
turned to the country at 1:47
a.m. Feb 24, did not appear in
public thereafter, a statement
issued in his name asserted
him as the president.
However, Dr. Goodluck Jon-
athan, in a statement issued
MichCon – at your door…
by his senior special assis-
tant on media and publicity,
Goodluck Jonathan
Yar’Adua
Ima Niboro, referred to him-
curity agencies, former heads
all ministers.” The ministers
at your service.
self as acting president. Two
of state and other eminent
then dispersed, and regrouped
other top government officials
Nigerians for their roles in
less than two hours later at
also referred to Jonathan as
maintaining order and stabil-
Jonathan’s office.
Whether you want service connected, or you’re concerned about a
acting president, but Yar’adua
ity during his absence.
Briefing newsmen after that
possible gas leak, one phone call is all it takes to bring MichCon service
referred to him as vice presi-
“President Yar’adua wishes
special meeting, Information
dent.
right to your doorstep.
to reassure all Nigerians that
and Communications Minister
To add to the confusion,
on account of their unceas-
Dora Akunyili said Jonathan
In emergencies, our response time is among the best in the industry.
the scheduled meeting of the
ing prayers and by the special
had not seen Yar’adua since
Federal Executive Council
grace of God, his health has
Your safety is our priority. When you call, you have peace of mind
his return to the country.
(FEC) failed to hold as neither
greatly improved. However,
Yar’adua nor Jonathan turned
while the president completes
Akunyili said the 2 p.m.
knowing we’ll be there quickly.
up to chair it.
his recuperation, Vice Presi-
meeting, which lasted for just At MichCon, we’ve been ensuring customer safety, providing excellent
dent Jonathan will continue to
ten minutes, “was not an elab-
There were indications in
oversee the affairs of state.”
orate one. The acting presi-
service and bringing you all the benefits of natural gas for more than
the council chambers that a
dent invited us for a meeting
150 years.
nasty physical confrontation
Jonathan’s own statement
in his office. When we came,
involving the nation’s two top
later in the day, titled “Acting
he told us that he has heard
public officers was in the offing
President Salutes Nigerians,”
that the president has re-
dteenergy.com
when Yar’adua’s military aide
said, “The acting president,
turned. He said he was briefed
de camp (ADC) and his chief
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jona-
by the president’s aides.” Non-emergency phone number 1.800.477.4747
security officer, Yusuf Tilde,
than, today assured Nigerians
positioned themselves right
that the ship of state is on
Akunyili herself had told
behind the president’s chair,
course.”
reporters that she didn’t know Emergency phone number 1.800.947.5000
of Yar’adua’s return until she
ready to drag it out for their
Speaking in the State
heard the news on CNN.
boss if he turned up for the
House, on the return of Presi-
meeting.
dent Umaru Musa Yar’adua,
Mobile phones
Indications were that if Jon-
he thanked Nigerians for their
athan had turned up and tried
prayers both for the president
in Kenya
to sit on the chair, as he had
and for the nation. He said
done since he became acting
that the president’s return is
Nairobi — A mobile phone
president, the two security
a pointer to the fact that the
suspended on a belt round the
men would have prevented it.
prayers of Nigerians are work-
waist, or from the neck, is a
If on the other hand he agreed
ing.
common sight among mem-
bers of church congregations
to sit in the vice president’s
“THE ACTING president
in Africa. Now, church leaders
chair, then he would have
called on Nigerians to contin-
are heaping praise on mobile
signaled that his acting presi-
ue to earnestly strive for the
phones (cell phones), because
dency was at an end. A scene
well being of the nation, noting
they say the instruments help 5 I F 1 P X F S P G : P V S $ P N N V O J U Z e =DTE
®
was averted when neither man
that it is at times like this that
congregations grow.
turned up in the council cham-
all patriots must rise to the
bers.
occasion, and place the inter-
Mobile phone use increased
While announcing the can-
est of the country above every
rapidly in Africa about 10 years
cellation of the Federal Execu-
other consideration. Accord-
ago. At that time, however,
tive Council meeting on Jon-
ing to him, Nigeria is still bat-
some Christians on the conti-
athan’s orders at 12:10 p.m.,
tling with the pains of develop-
nent criticized the phones for
secretary to the Government of
ment and progress, therefore
being “marks of materialism.”
the Federation Alhaji Mahmud
all hands must be on deck to
Now that has changed.
Yayale Ahmed addressed him
ensure that the integrity of the
as acting president, whereas
nation is maintained at times.
HOW TO
a statement issued at about
“Dr. Jonathan urged Nige-
1.30 p.m. by the special ad-
rians to continue to work for CONTACT US:
viser on media and publicity
peace, security and stability,
to the president, Olusegun Ad-
stating that we have only one
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
eniyi, referred to Jonathan as
country that we can call our
479 LEDYARD • DETROIT MI 48201
vice president.
(313) 963-5522 • FAX (313) 963-8788
own; we must therefore single
mindedly pursue our national
OFFICE HOURS:
Briefing newsmen at about
interest at all times”.
Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2.15 p.m. after ministers met
with Jonathan, Minister of
Despite the insistence by
For general, local ............ Ext. 232
Information and Communica-
Jonathan’s office that he was
Entertainment news ........ Ext. 241
tion. Professor Dora Akunyili
still the acting president, pro-
Homefront ....................... Ext. 248
also addressed Jonathan as
fessor Dora Akunyili later Community (religion, fashion,
acting president.
dropped hints that he was
weddings, etc) ................ Ext. 243
The presidency’s statement
shying away from a full con- Subscriptions .................. Ext. 227
which directed Jonathan to
frontation with Yar’adua.
E-commerce ................... Ext. 255
continue to oversee the affairs
Briefing reporters after a
of state while Yar’adua com-
meeting that Jonathan held
–DEADLINE –
pletes his recuperation indi-
with all the ministers, Aku-
Classified: 3 p.m Friday. Copy,
cated that Yar’adua does not
nyili said, “He invited us for a corrections and cancellations, pre-
recognize him as acting presi-
meeting in his meeting room ceding the Wed nesday publica-
dent. “While the president
at 2 p.m. and when we came,
tion.
completes his recuperation,
he told us that the president
Display: 12 p.m. Friday preced-
Vice President Jonathan will
has returned, that he has been
ing the Wednesday pub lication.
continue to oversee the affairs
briefed by the aides of Mr.
of state,” the statement said.
President and that he hopes
For all news and calendar items:
Deadline is two weeks prior to
JONATHAN was made
to see the wife of the president
event.
acting president by a resolu-
this evening and that when
we meet next week, we will be
Weeks that contain holidays, dead-
tion passed by both cham-
briefed on the outcome of the
line is Thursday prior to publication
bers of the National Assembly
Saudi trip by the members of
date.
when Yar’adua failed to trans-
mit a letter of medical vacation
council. And that when he is
to the legislature as required
eventually briefed by our pres-
by section 145 of the 1999
ident he will call us again.”
THE MICHIGAN
Constitution, more than two
Yar’adua himself, whose
months after he went to Saudi
entry into the country at 2 a.m.
Arabia. It wasn’t clear whether
CHRONICLE
was not captured by any news
Yar’adua’s return has auto-
camera due to a heavy cordon
matically abated the National
placed by his bodyguards,
PUBLISHING
Assembly’s resolutions.
failed to appear in public for
the whole of yesterday.
COMPANY
Yar’adua’s statement
issued by Adeniyi said, “After
He did not turn up for the
Publication No.: USPS 344-820
being discharged by the team
FEC meeting, held no other 479 Ledyard Street
of medical experts oversee-
public meetings afterwards
Detroit, MI 48201
ing his treatment in the king-
and did not do a broadcast,
dom of Saudi Arabia, Presi-
as some officials earlier said
Phone: (313) 963-5522
dent Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
he would. He had arrived the
OFFICE HOURS:
returned to the presidential
country in an air ambulance,
villa, Abuja.
Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
and the small convoy of cars
that took him to the State
Closed Sat. and Sun.
“President Yar’Adua wishes
to express his profound grati-
House also had a Ford ambu-
The Michigan Chronicle is published
tude to all Nigerians for their
lance, though it was not clear
every Wednesday. Periodical
prayers for his recovery, their
whether Yar’adua sat in it or
Postage, paid at Detroit, MI. Price
in a car.
$1.00 and other post office.
exceptional generosity of
spirit and their appreciation
The weekly Federal Execu-
MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU
of the fact that all mortals are
tive Council (FEC) meeting
OF CIRCULATION
subject to the vagaries of ill-
scheduled was cancelled after
POSTMASTER:
health. President Yar’adua is
the ministers had already
Send address changes to:
grateful to the vice president,
waited for two hours. Secre-
MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,
tary to the government of the
for competently overseeing the
479 LEDYARD
Federation, Mahmud Yayale
affairs of state in his absence.
Ahmad, entered the cham-
DETROIT, MI 48201
“The president also wishes
bers at 12.10 p.m. and told
to thank the president of the
the ministers that “the acting
Senate, the Speaker of the
president has directed me to
House of Representatives,
announce that this meeting is
the entire membership of the
postponed. However, the acting
National Assembly, the Gov-
president will hold a special
ernors’ Forum, the Judiciary,
meeting with all ministers by
the armed forces and other se-
2 p.m. in his conference room.
Attendance is mandatory for
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