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The opposition party, Action Congress (AC), has said the
Executive Council of the Federation’s decision to invoke Section 144 of the
Constitution to resolve the issue of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s lingering
illness should not be regarded as mere emotion.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it has no doubt that if the Constitution is
strictly followed, the executive council will not wait a day longer to start
the process of declaring the president incapacitated, based on his long-term
illness.

“Those who are trying to appeal to our emotion, who are saying
we should keep the president in office, even if he is unable to perform his
official functions, must be told in clear terms that one cannot eat his cake
and have it too. It is either we want to be ruled by law or by emotion,” the
statement read.

A Constitutional issue

President Yar’Adua has not been able to function officially
since November 2009, the party spokesperson said. However, the writers of the
Constitution anticipated such a situation, which is why they made the provision
for Section 144.

“Now, we are being told by self-acclaimed guardians of the
president that our morality will be debased if we follow the stipulations of
our Constitution to resolve this lingering issue. These moralists are saying
there is no difference between the occupier of the presidency, who is an
individual, and the presidency itself, which is an institution. They are saying
national interest should be subjugated to personal interest.

“They are saying we must maintain the status quo and have an
acting president that stays that way indefinitely. No, the Constitution did not
make provision for an indefinite acting presidency. We must resolve this issue
within the dictates of the Constitution, remove the Sword of Damocles that
Yar’Adua’s invisible presidency has become on the acting presidency, and get
our country moving. Sentiments have no place in this issue,” the party’s
statement read.

Presidency in hiding

The party also condemned the current situation in which Acting
President, Goodluck Jonathan, is yet to see the president since his return to
the country from Saudi Arabia, almost three months ago – even when both are
within the precinct of Aso Rock.

“The mere fact that the acting president has so far been
prevented from seeing the president is a confirmation of the fact that the
cabal holding Yar’Adua hostage is doing so for selfish reasons, rather than
acting in the interest of the President or that of the Nigerian people.

“Since Nigeria is a democracy, rather than a fiefdom, Nigerians must ignore
these Yar’Adua apologists. The members of the EXCOF (Executive Council of the
Federation) must act in accordance with the Constitution,” the statement read.