Has Nigeria's First Lady Seized Control of the Nation?

Amid rumours about President's health, confusion reigns over who is in charge

By Daniel Howden in Lagos

Saturday, 6 March 2010

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AFP / GETTY IMAGES

Demonstrators protested in Lagos before the return of the president after one month in Saudi Arabia following a medical check-up. His wife is now at the centre of a dispute over access to the ailing leader

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Mounting anger in Nigeria at the mystery surrounding the health of the country's president has led many to question who is really in charge of the African giant: its elected leader, the acting president or the first lady?

Turai Yar'Adua, a former schoolteacher and long-time wife of the president, is accused of making a power grab and taking charge of the oil-rich nation along with a cabal of advisers.

The 53-year-old first lady has denied all access to her husband since his night-time return to Nigeria last week, following a three-month absence at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Three attempts to visit Umaru Yar'Adua – whose medical condition has not been publicly explained – by the acting president Goodluck Jonathan have been rebuffed.

The 67-year-old president has not been seen in public since November and is believed to be so critically ill that senior sources believe it is "highly unlikely" he can recover. After months of emergency treatment for what was supposed to be pericarditis, Mr Yar'Adua was brought home and kept in the grounds of the presidential villa inside an ambulance for nearly a week while an intensive-care unit was hastily built inside.

The only people believed to have seen him are his wife, the family's head of security and the Saudi medical team which has accompanied him back to Nigeria. The strict secrecy over the president's health and absence of any formal authority on the part of the first lady to restrict access to the head of state has prompted one law firm in Abuja to sue her and her kitchen cabinet of advisers for violating the constitution.

Africa's most populous country has been destabilised by a prolonged power vacuum which has endangered peace efforts in the Niger Delta, has frozen badly needed reforms and has forced Nigeria's convoluted power struggles into the public domain. The confusion has also threatened the gentlemen's agreement in the ruling party under which the majority Muslim North and predominantly Christian South take turns in the presidency.

The mother of seven has been accused by some in the media of launching the "Turai coup", of plotting to take the vice-presidency and by others of endangering her husband's health in a desperate bid to hold onto power. She has, however, made no public statement thus far.

Attention has turned already to the race for the vice-presidency in the event that Mr Jonathan formally takes the top job. Mrs Yar'Adua is thought to want the job for herself or for one of her two sons-in-law who are already state governors.

Whoever takes the vice-presidency ahead of next year's election would then be the frontrunner for the top job, analysts said.

The first lady has been able to see off attempts this week to limit her husband's remaining authority despite his medical condition, as she won the backing of Nigeria's powerful state governors.

Turai's apparent skill at the political game in the capital Abuja has prompted a re-examination of a first lady previously thought to be a modest successor to the brash senior wife of Olusegun Obasanjo who came to be known as "greedy Stella".

Mrs Yar'Adua was born to a modest family in the north state of Katsina and educated at a government school. She met and married the man who would be president when he was still a chemistry teacher.

But her new family, the Yar'Aduas, was already part of the political elite in Nigeria even though her husband was seen as the least likely member to enter politics. His elevation to the presidency was a surprise, especially as he had spoken of his desire to return to teaching. His elder brother, Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, was a party leader and powerful figure. When Yar'Adua senior was asked to endorse his younger brother's bid to be governor of Katsina State he is said to have asked who really wanted the job, Umaru or Turai?

Because of her husband's persistent health problems, family friends and colleagues remember her playing a significant role in the running of the state.

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DEMOCRACY.......NIGERIAN

(End This Political Crisis Before It’s Too Late)

End This Political Crisis Before It's Too Late. His Excellency, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, The Presidency, Aso Rock. Abuja , Nigeria . Dear Goodluck Jonathan, As the Acting President and the Commander in Chief, you Must end this political crisis before it's too late. Its mockery of your good office (The Presidency) that you're prevented from seeing your boss. The international community will find it difficult to believe what is happening. By the powers conferred on you as the Commander in Chief, you should summon immediately the Chief of Army Staff, The Director of State Security Services, The Director of Nigeria Intelligence Agency etc, these people will in turn obtain relevant information from the Yar'Adua,s Chief Security Officer, his ADC and orderlies. Whatever information obtained should be broadcast live to the nation. It will be in the best interest of the ADC and Chief Security Officer to Yar'Adua to furnish their bosses and the nation all they know about Yar'Adua. They owe the nation serious obligation to give account of Yar'Adua,s medical condition as longer as it will help to move the nation forward. They (ADC and CSO to Yar'Adua) should draw lessons from what happened to Al-Mustapha (former Chief Security Officer to late General Abacha) who was cross examined several times about his activities during the Oputa Panel. The present (CSO) to Yar'Adua should remember that he does not have immunity from prosecution. However this present crisis will equally affect him as it will affect other Nigerians directly or indirectly. Therefore, every efforts should be made by all to end the current political tension arising from Yar'Adua,s ill health. President Yar'Adua is, and will not be the only sick president. When Fidel Castro (Cuban President) became seriously ill, he was televised live on his sick bed when Venezuela 's President (Hugo Chavez) visited him. When late Yasser Arafat (The Leader of Palestine Liberation Organization) was taken to a French hospital before his death, the entire world was kept informed of his situation. Also when former Israeli Prime Minster (Ariel Sharon) was taken to hospital, the world was kept informed. I find it too difficult to understand the secrecy surrounding our president's sickness. The National Assembly should also summon without delays all the Service Chiefs (Heads of Security Apparatus responsible for guarding Yar'Adua) to come and explain to the nation all the know about President Yar'Adua,s illness. Madam Turai Yar'Adua (first lady) will not have the powers to stop the National Assembly from summoning the Service Chiefs; neither will she have the powers to stop them from appearing before the National Assembly. The National Assembly should take further steps necessary to avoid this political crisis. All their efforts should be televised live to Nigerians.    Mr. Acting President, you should proceed immediately set up a Commission of Enquiry to look into the events that happened while our President was admitted in a Saudi Arabian hospital. The Commission should also look at the suspicious return of our President into the country. Expose those behind this shameful episode. Prosecute if necessary those who might have aided the return of our President without notifying you. This Commission of Enquiry should be televised live to Nigerians just like the Oputa Panel did. The idea is for Nigerians to have their reports themselves because previous reports of several judicial, administrative or commission(s) of enquiry was never made public. Another idea should be to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incident in the future. You (Goodluck Jonathan) should also disclose to the nation how much the federal government spent on Yar'Adua,s medical trip to Saudi Arabia ? I am asking this question because President Yar'Adua did not spend his personal money. Nigerian tax payers money/the oil money would have been used to off set the medical bills. Remember, the President went with his entourage, and they all were in Saudi for the number of days he spent there. Please remember to add the cost(s) of three government delegations to Saudi Arabia , even though they didn't see Yar'Adua.  The idea of asking how much was spent is because Nigerians deserve to know how their money is being spent. Who knows, the money spent in Saudi Arabia might have been enough to equip at least one hospital in Nigeria . It was the biggest embarrassment that our President went to Saudi Arabia for his medical treatment. To achieve a balance, the federal government should either send every sick Nigerian to overseas for treatment or completely ban overseas medical treatments for government officials, and properly equip our hospitals. I have made this argument several times. Nigerians at home and in Diaspora should be more than prepared to defend their democracy. Power belongs to the people. This is the time to be on our guard to defend our freedom and democracy. Every effort should be made by Nigerians to stop further political crisis. Political crisis will rather set us back. Yar'Adua,s issue should not prevent other political parties from starting campaigns for next year (2011) general elections. Opposition political parties should be strategizing by now on how to capture power come next year. Election is less than fourteen months from now; therefore this is the best time for opposition parties to present credible candidates and programmes to challenge PDP led government. I will advice Nigerians to vote credible people and not political party in future elections in Nigeria . Let's not forget to start shadow government/cabinet starting from next year (2011). May God bless Nigeria . Chinedu Vincent Akuta. An activist and leader of "Support Option A4 Group" Leicester-UK akutachinedu@ yahoo.com http://briefsfromak uta.blogspot. com/ . __,_._,___

Ex-Minister faults Yar’Adua’s secret return

National News Feb 25, 2010 By Tony Edike

ENUGU—FORMER Minister of Health, Professor A.B. C. Nwosu, yesterday, faulted the manner in which ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua was brought into the country from Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Wednesday.
He said Nigerians were tired of the game being played by the president’s wife, Turai and his aides in their bid to convince Nigerians that the president was still capable of discharging his official functions.

He said that the president’s wife and her boys had played on the intelligence of millions of Nigerians enough to the extent that the current game being orchestrated to make Nigerians believe that they were still in control had become too familiar to be taken seriously.

Reacting to the reported return of the president to the country, Prof. Nwosu who served under the Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, said that the concealed return of the president was part of the games being played by his supporters with the aim of causing more confusion in the country.
SOURCE

AL JAZEERA NIGERIA & VIOLENCE

AL JAZEERA SENDS TROUBLE TO NAIJA

Al Jazreera would like to see Nigeria in a great political and social mess.
They have continued with  their instigations........

Porta le prostitute in un albergo Loro lo picchianoe lo rapinano

Finite in manette due nigeriane, una in Italia con asilo politico, l'altra sprovvista di permesso di soggiorno

Alla fine del riquadro di spiegazione ne sarà proposta anche la traduzione in inglese, ripresa dal lemmario Italiano-Inglese del Ragazzini 2010.
Prostitute in città (Foto Radaelli)


Monza, 10 febbraio 2010 - Qualche mese fa, un commerciante di Monza aveva sequestrato per una notte due prostitute in un motel della zona e le aveva drogate e tenute in suo possesso con la forza. Stavolta è andata in modo diametralmente diverso.

«Cornuto e mazziato» direbbe il detto popolare. E anche se in questo caso di «corna» non è davvero il caso di parlare, le «mazzate» ci sono state davvero tutte. Perché al cliente di due «belle di notte», questa volta, è andata davvero male.

Le due prostitute che si era portato in una camera d’albergo della città si sono rivelate infatti più violente e pericolose di quanto potesse immaginare, tanto che lo hanno malmenato a sangue e rapinato. Il fatto è accaduto un paio di sere fa. Tutto comincia quando alla centrale operativa dei carabinieri di Monza arriva una chiamata d’aiuto da un hotel della città. Quando sul posto arriva la pattuglia del Nucleo operativo e radiomobile della Compagnia di Monza, passo dopo passo il mistero viene chiarito.

I militari cominciano col trovare, all’uscita dell’albergo, due ragazze di colore che stranamente, alla vista delle divise, tentano di darsi alla fuga. I carabinieri le bloccano per identificarle: si tratta delle nigeriane Tracy Erewa, 26 anni, in Italia con l’asilo politico, e Fem Edejyaru, 22 anni, sprovvista di permesso di soggiorno.

Addosso alle due ragazze vengono trovati un telefono cellulare marca Samsung, una fotocamera Olympus, una camicia da uomo di colore blu e documenti di identità palesemente falsi (si scoprirà che appartengono ad altre due donne nigeriane estranee alla vicenda).

Proprio in quel momento, la pattuglia viene raggiunta da un uomo, il cliente delle due prostitute. Il suo racconto le inchioda: dopo essersi appartato per una prestazione sessuale, il cliente è stato violentemente malmenato e strattonato e, successivamente, rapinato appunto di telefonino, macchina fotografica e camicia.

Inevitabile a quel punto l’arresto delle due nigeriane per rapina aggravata in concorso e falsa attestazone a pubblico ufficiale della propria identità. Le due donne sono state quindi rinchiuse in una cella della casa circondariale di Monza a disposizione dell’autorità giudiziaria. Gli oggetti rapinati sono tati restituiti al suo legittimo proprietario.

...PHOTO THOUGHTS...: NEVER AGAIN......ANYWHERE...#links#links#links

...PHOTO THOUGHTS...: NEVER AGAIN......ANYWHERE...#links#links#links

JOS- ONE RIOT TOO MANY

22 January 2010
Lagos — While the world agonized over the devastating earthquake that had hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti, killing over 50,000 people with thousands still unaccounted for, many were stunned last Sunday that, rather than empathize with a fellow black country whose poor citizens are made up mainly of freed African slaves, Nigerians were instead engaged in the mindless and senseless past-time of bloodletting, on religious grounds!

The recent Jos riots began in an all-too-familiar manner. A minor dispute over the re-building of a damaged house by a Muslim resident in a disputed part of Jos had attracted the attention of scores of Christian youths who resisted the attempt.

Before long, the matter had degenerated into killings along religious and ethnic lines, one report says.

Another version has it that the fracas was actually a result of a soccer match that went sour.

Whatever the cause of this recent sectarian killing in Jos, the results have been similar: Churches and mosques have been razed down, hundreds of people have lost their lives, and thousands have fled from their homes and sought refuge in police and army barracks.

Many of those killed had been 'innocent' by-standers. Properties worth billions of naira have also been destroyed in the process.

Coming on the heels of a similar riot in the same Jos in 2008 that took the lives of about 500 people and almost led to the declaration of a state of emergence in Plateau State, this recent blood bath between Muslims and Christians in the area could be said to be one too many.

It is even worse that the Presidential Panel set up by the Federal Government to look into the causes of the November 28, 2008 riots is still sitting in Jos and has not concluded its mission before the present crisis erupted.

As with previous riots, government has announced the imposition of dusk to dawn curfew, deployed troops to the area, made arrests and has vowed to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous habit of citizens of the country killing one another at will with no adverse consequences to themselves.

Still many believe that after all the saber rattling by government, nothing much will come out of its resolve to fish out and punish those that instigate and profit from the state of uncertainty and insecurity among Nigeria's multi ethnic and religious groups.

It has been the unfortunate lot of Nigerians since colonial and post-colonial times that no year passes without a major religious riot that consumes their lives with nothing done by government before or even after the killings.

Many have blamed the recurrent nature of religious riots in the country to this inability of governments at all levels and the nation's major religious leaders to sincerely and squarely address the socio-economic and political imbalances that conduce for violent religious or ethnic riots.

Those who tow this line point at the high level of unemployment of the youths of the country who make up the foot soldiers in these riots, a situation made more galling to those inclined to inciting violence when they point at the nation's economic and political leaders who live in unearned and un-merited opulence in the sea of mass misery.

Some have also seen the motive factor of religious and other riots as the constitutional imbalance, as in the Jos case, which consigns great swathes of the population of the area to the status of 'strangers' even when these 'others' had been second or first generation descendants of the early settlers.

The adverse consequence of this 'indigene-stranger' dichotomy is that these strangers are practically disenfranchised politically and economically.

As the Senate President David Mark is reported to have said following the recent Jos riots, this nation can no longer afford or tolerate the totally irrational, 'nonsensical' state of affairs.

But it is one thing to wax pious over this matter by those in high government authority; it is however something else to muster the political will required to frontally tackle the monster of religious riots in the (mostly) Northern part of the country.

In this regard, our lawmakers of which Mark is a principal could dispassionately look at the constitution of the land and make it more people-friendly by resolving the thorny issue of defining "Nigerian-ness".

Also our religious and traditional leaders who command a lot of moral authority must be held to account whenever religious or ethnic violence erupts within their domains. It is not enough that they retrospectively deplore these killings; they should be made to explain why they have happened to begin with.

Furthermore, our security agencies must be more pro-active than re-active in riot situations. Patrolling the streets and interdicting mere stragglers after the act is just a lot of hogwash.

But most crucially, government at all levels must be seen to make examples of religious or ethnic rabble-rousers whose teachings radicalize the people and lead to these recurrent killings. This is because it is of no practical deterrent use and purpose when government announces just after these odious riots that 60, 70, 80 or 100 suspects have been arrested when nothing more is heard of them thereafter. Nothing will deter religious or ethnic murderers when they see that no one ever gets punished for these crimes.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201001220504.html