A Sick President...
By Sonala Olumhense

What do we make of Nigeria's power vacuum?: President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua takes ill, and hurriedly leaves the country for treatment abroad. It turns out that while he had time to sign the national budget, he did not hand power over to Jonathan Goodluck, the Vice-President. That is neither the letter nor the spirit of our constitution.

I hope the President recovers. As it turns out, not only had he been misdiagnosed, his condition is quite bad. It would be a great shame were Nigeria's sitting president to die on a foreign sick bed. It was ugly enough when Nigeria's First Lady died in a foreign hospital.

What would be an even greater tragedy, were our President to die abroad, would be for him to leave behind a power vacuum.

Let me be clear. I would not be clapping for a Goodluck Jonathan presidency. His declaration of assets was a hoax. And the circumstances in which he made public that declaration were certainly not lofty.

He also has other heavy counts against him, the biggest of which is his wife, Patience Jonathan. We would have a First Lady who has yet to discharge outstanding issues against her. Mrs. Jonathan is the woman from whom the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized $13.5 million dollars in September 2006, one month after the same agency had caused an Abuja court to authorize freezing of N104 million she had allegedly tried to launder through another lady.

Still, the constitution provides for the Vice-President to take over should the President be unable to lead. Thus while I empathize with President Yar'Adua in his illness, he has no right to set our constitutional provisions aside for his personal or political convenience. Behavior like this lies is at the heart of our national malaise, and he must explain, and apologize to the people of Nigeria.

...AND A FLEEING SENATOR...

I know what you are thinking: another story about Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello. Not necessarily.

Professor Adenike Grange is on trial. She is the former Minister for Health. According to the prosecution, hers are among the fingers that happened to the infamous N300 million left over from the 2007 budget. The well-known paediatrician is on trial along with her former Minister of State, Gabriel Aduku.

Our constitution permits you to defend yourself against allegations made against you. The Health Minister and others involved in this matter are availing themselves of that right.

Everyone, that is, except the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health. I will refrain from naming her because, unlike the former Ministers, she is very well connected. She is so well-connected that, two months ago, she cost the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu his job. One of the counts against Mr. Ribadu was that he wanted to know how she-who-would-become-Senator paid for an expensive home in New York while she was but a student. For such impudence, they ran Ribadu out of town.

The only problem is that the current President, in his wise patriotism, had a popular plan. He directed that any unspent funds in the previous budget be returned-now-to the federal treasury.

"How can?"

That is how we frame incredulity in Nigeria. "How can?"

At the Ministry of Health, they had never heard such nonsense before. Nonsense so putrid it brought Madam Senator running from the Upper Legislative House to help the nation out. "How can we return this money that is right here in this room with us to the government?"

And so, say federal prosecutors, they ate it.

That is another "Nigeria-speak". They shared the money. Those things are usually handled in cash, in the middle of the night. People log their share into the trunk of their car and vanish into the darkness.

Among those who "collected" of the N300 million is alleged to be Madam Senator. Into her coffers went the sum of N10 million (about $85,000.00). Just like that.

The EFCC was trying to review this story with Madam Senator when she went into hiding. Reports said she jumped over the fence of her Abuja home and disappeared. The only media person she has favored with her presence since then is somebody in Bush House, London. That is the address of the British Broadcasting Company. When a matter is critical, the Nigerian elite shun the local media.

Madam Chairperson was smart. She knew Nigerian reporter would ask questions the BBC would never ask: If you are innocent, why are you on the run? Did you-reportedly in your nightgown-truly escape from the trained and athletically superior men and women of the EFCC by jumping over the fence? How do you justify the budget of the Ministry of Health being spent by members of the legislature? Why did you accept such funds after the President had directed they be returned?

It does not matter now. What does is that the woman fled from the law. Actually, that is the rumor. EFCC sources-finding their credibility on the brink- are reminding the nation that it was Falilat Ogunkoya, not somebody with a similar identity, who ran in the Olympics for Nigeria. They are saying that in a true physical contest, it is inconceivable that anyone would evade EFCC agents.

Madam Senator, they now say, benefitted from instructions from high authorities that prevented the officers from taking her away. The implication is that the government of Musa Yar'Adua has double standards in the so-called war against corruption, and that a process that is capable of claiming a Minister can assist a well-connected Senator to laugh at the law.

That is not completely new. We know of many Nigerians, including former governors, who are not in jail or even on trial, nearly one year after they left office. This means we are continuing to drift in circles.

Of no less interest in this drama is that Madam Senator is avoiding the EFCC, which is the legal child of her own legislature. Ironically, the EFCC is one of the few things for which the old man may be given credit, even if he had set it up with less-than-serious intentions. Nigerians know that despite the rhetoric, the man had no respect for the rule of law.

And so, here we are. A daughter who loves to talk about what is right, but lacks the character to do it; a daughter elected into the legislature but who resents the law. A new generation with the same old prospects. We have to tear this temple down.

Robot  Villager

# 1 A Sick President... ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 27.04.2008 00:56

aguabata  Villager

# 2 It is alleged that the president was treated in wiesbaden Germany for Churg Strauss syndrome, it is an opportunity to highlight the malaise of our hospitals, but it is a bit insensitve the way we are going about it. i dont want to start listing his lofty plans on the health sector, because we have heard enough lofty plans from politicians without seeing the gains but he's been the president for 11 months. If any country's president has a rare terminal illness be it an American or European president and there are rare specialists in that field, who are the best in the world and live in Ghana, i can assure you the president will get help from them, they would probably do it with dignity because apparently their medical facilities boasts of being the best in some other field. Even if our country boasts of having world class facilities, will you still criticise him for taking treatment for a rare ailment we do not have the specialty. we could have started our criticism by commiserating with Yaradua's family who are in great pain and fear, and then point out how useless our hospitals are, the plight of those of us who cant afford better treatment. in as much as i know we can argue that Yaradua wasnt elected he appears to be more human than most of our past presidents, we havent heard stories yet of arrogance, insensitivity and uncouth attributes only of percieved wrong political decisions. So far he deserves symapthy for his personal shortcomings but not for his political shortcomings. I am afraid if he dies cause as sonala has highlighted, the hawks are swooning all around him waiting to take over with a pounce. Posted by aguabata| 27.04.2008 03:35

ariteni  Villager

# 3 What I expected the writer to do is to suggest to villagers that a GET WELL CARD be opened at NVS for our President if you know what this type of illness means in medical terms. But I blame not this writer. By the way, we also have to stop this continous defamation of Nigerian Doctors. Yar'Adua opted to go abroad for treatment when he could have been treated in Nigeria. Ditto Gani Fawehinmi. But to continue to say that Nigerian Doctors "mis-diagnosed" them is unacceptable. The above commentator says "in as much as i know we can argue that Yaradua wasnt elected he appears to be more human than most of our past presidents" Oh, so you are one of the rumour mongers, I hope you and your ilk will stop the rumour when Supreme Court gives a verdict on Tuesday. If Yar'Adua was not elected who was? "There was no election" abi? Perish the thought and live with the reality. 2007 is history. Nigerians are already devising strategies for 2011. Mr Segun Adeniyi issued a Press Statement to the effect that Yar'adua actually handed over to Jonathan. I hope that is the truth. If not, then Sonala's demand for appologies is very much in order. If it is true, that the EFCC halted the prosecution of Mrs Patience Jonathan because her husband became VP, then it means Dr Jonathan's Presidential Immunity covers his wife. The office of Second Lady must be very important indeed. HE Dr Orji Kalu has suggested and I verily agree, that the for the war against corruption to be credible, all public officers must be treated equally including Governors, Senators, Ministers and their "first ladies". Jonathan summoned courage to give a "phoney" declaration of Assets. A phoney declaration is better than none. Gbenga Daniel also did. But there are many sacred cows out there who simply ignored the call. And NVS also backed out of the crusade at the last minute. Unequal justice is one great malaise in our Public Affairs in Nigeria. The EFCC must be very weak indeed. The other day, Ajudua also scaled the fence. Perhaps EFCC needs to go abroad to hire "anti-fence" experts to strengthen their job corps! Posted by ariteni| 27.04.2008 04:46

Ike Amadi  JJC

# 4 Sonala Olumhense is that it again, with his accustomed wit and acutely sharp analytical scissors, proding and probing this seemingly moribund corpus of a state! For a long time now, I have particularly missed his essays and was even wondering what must have occassioned such a break! I'm had you're back now SO! A beg make you give us notice when next you're going away since many of us, dey look forward to your contribution !!!! Wishing you and yours the best! Posted by Ike Amadi| 27.04.2008 10:20

philipikita  Villager

# 5 =ariteni;4295010563>What I expected the writer to do is to suggest to villagers that a GET WELL CARD be opened at NVS for our President if you know what this type of illness means in medical terms. But I blame not this writer. By the way, we also have to stop this continous defamation of Nigerian Doctors. Yar'Adua opted to go abroad for treatment when he could have been treated in Nigeria. Ditto Gani Fawehinmi. But to continue to say that Nigerian Doctors "mis-diagnosed" them is unacceptable." In my experience, it is very true that Nigerian Doctors misdiagnose, especially the ones that work in or own private hospitals. For greed, no private hospital turns away cases they cannot handle, unless a patient is in a terrible situation. More often, private hospitals must dignose (rightly or wrongly) and collect your money. They must survive. This is a fact based on scientific research. Posted by philipikita| 27.04.2008 12:21

dapxin  Villager

# 6 =aguabata;4295010542>It is alleged that the president was treated in wiesbaden Germany for Churg Strauss syndrome, it is an opportunity to highlight the malaise of our hospitals, but it is a bit insensitve the way we are going about it. i dont want to start listing his lofty plans on the health sector, because we have heard enough lofty plans from politicians without seeing the gains but he's been the president for 11 months. If any country's president has a rare terminal illness be it an American or European president and there are rare specialists in that field, who are the best in the world and live in Ghana, i can assure you the president will get help from them, they would probably do it with dignity because apparently their medical facilities boasts of being the best in some other field. Even if our country boasts of having world class facilities, will you still criticise him for taking treatment for a rare ailment we do not have the specialty. we could have started our criticism by commiserating with Yaradua's family who are in great pain and fear, and then point out how useless our hospitals are, the plight of those of us who cant afford better treatment. in as much as i know we can argue that Yaradua wasnt elected he appears to be more human than most of our past presidents, we havent heard stories yet of arrogance, insensitivity and uncouth attributes only of percieved wrong political decisions. So far he deserves symapthy for his personal shortcomings but not for his political shortcomings. I am afraid if he dies cause as sonala has highlighted, the hawks are swooning all around him waiting to take over with a pounce. Even before reading the entire article, I was tempted, and I fell, in reading your comments. Truth is, misdiagnosed or not, Mr. Yaradua is/was sick. He - if anything of the saying "the health of the people is the highest law" is valid is committing suicide - by taking on the Abuja presidency, after closing his eyes during the fraud, then admitting the fraud, after collapsing on the campaign trail.....only to then tactically begin defending the fraud....I dont envy nor pity him. Oh the flipside, you seek a touch of humanity in evaluating the Yaradua's unfunny predicament but tbh, we - the mass of the other Nigerians - probably deserve far more touch of humanity from the misruling class- and Yaradua currently typifies their lot at the moment. I wont wish him death, but I really dont pity him....And you make our doctors appear as if given the labs ? and the research outlets, we wouldn't be top5 if not top3 in medicines' pecking order....abeeeegi. Posted by dapxin| 27.04.2008 14:24

tonsoyo  Villager

# 7 "We have to tear this temple down" - Sonala I could not agree with you any more. This is the only way out of this vicious circle of roguery and incompetence. Posted by tonsoyo| 27.04.2008 15:14

denker  Villager

# 8 ..naija-people dey gullible nobi small..na who tell una say yaradua spent two weeks for clinic here for germany(na only 3-4days)..na big lie..den chap come enjoy his self for here..exactly at hilton hotel wey dey for MAINZ..abegi, make una leave matter for Mathews..i go die o..LOL Posted by denker| 27.04.2008 15:23

ebiasain  Villager

# 9 'Tear this fence down.' In order words, let's go for a revolution! While I commend the writer for his brave words, we must remember the Nigerian attitude about the sanctity of life- life is too precious to be wasted on a mere revolution. Until we're able to organize a ONE MILLION MAN MARCH on Aso Rock, the talk of tearing the fence down is still premature. Until the masses show some muscle, until they are able to hold the BULL by its horns, the gangsters, pretending to be lawmakers in Abuja, will never, never be concerned about our drift. Until Nigerians realize that their lives are really worthless, and that dying to improve those of their children is worth some thing, the beat goes on, political leaders will continue to have the country for a ride. Didn't they just add more billions of cash to their entertainment allowance? Posted by ebiasain| 27.04.2008 15:50

Bunch17  Villager

# 10 =philipikita;4295010648> In my experience, it is very true that Nigerian Doctors misdiagnose, especially the ones that work in or own private hospitals. For greed, no private hospital turns away cases they cannot handle, unless a patient is in a terrible situation. More often, private hospitals must dignose (rightly or wrongly) and collect your money. They must survive. This is a fact based on scientific research. Can you please reference the afore mentioned research for our perusal. Thanking you in advance. Misdiagnosing Bunch17 Posted by Bunch17| 27.04.2008 15:59

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