NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Yar'Adua 'Aso Rocks' Back Home

By Masterweb News Desk

Ailing Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua reportedly, was secretly flown back to Nigeria early this morning at 1.46 am, under the cover of darkness. Yar'Adua had being in Saudi Arabia since November 23, 2009, were he had been receiving medical treatment. According to our sources, a plane from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia landed at 1.46 am at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, with another jet landing minutes later. Yar'Adua was flown on the first plane, reportedly a Saudi air ambulance. A presidency source speaking to Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity said: "He just landed at Abuja airport on a Saudi plane escorted by the presidential plane. He is on his way to the presidential villa now." The planes according to reports left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, minutes apart, with the first leaving at 8.22 pm Nigerian time.

Heavily armed soldiers from Brigade of Guards, were deployed on the route between the airport and presidential villa (Aso Rock). Soldiers according to sources were ordered for security reasons, to leave their phones behind. Airport staff were ordered out of the presidential wing by soldiers who took over the area. Power supply to the airport was switched to generator for more reliability at 1.15 am, thirty one minutes before the arrival of the first plane. On landing, both planes remained on the runway for a long period of time before an ambulance and a bus parked not too far from the planes drove to where they were. The transfer of Yar'Adua to the ambulance could not be seen due to darkness of the runway. The ambulance apparently carrying Yar'Adua left the runway at 3.00 am, while a convoy of about eight cars drove towards the planes. Both the cars and the bus(still by the planes) left the runway about five minutes after the departure of the ambulance. All vehicles, in total numbering about 18, headed for the presidential villa. The presidential jet and the 'Saudi air ambulance' at 3.25 am, minutes apart, taxied to park. ( Continues below….. )

Photo Above: President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria.

Important dignitaries at the airport to receive Yar'Adua included governors of Kaduna, Bauchi and Katsina. He returned in company of his wife, Chief Security Officer and Aide-de-Camp. It is unclear whether Yar'Adua would be fit enough to resume presidential duties. It is expected he would continue his sick leave at the presidential villa, while Goodluck Jonathan (formerly Vice president) continues as acting president. The chances of early elections in November this year remain high. This means that party primaries would be held between May and June. All things being equal as calculated, PDP, the ruling party would have produced by July, a presidential flag bearer for the elections. A northerner is expected to emerge the winner, as PDP zoned the presidency to the north till 2015. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Seal of The President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the official symbol of the Nigerian President, first used in 1979 by President Shehu Shagari.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, was granted full powers as Acting President by the National Assembly earlier this month. The move filled the power vacuum created by Yar'Adua's prolonged absence that put the country on the brink. Several lawsuits challenging the manner of the emergence of Jonathan as acting president, have been filed and await hearing. Some of the lawsuits pled the court to determine whether the Senate or House of Representatives could by a resolution, empower Jonathan to act as Acting President. Other lawsuits pray the court to declare as unconstitutional, National Assembly's declaration of Jonathan as Acting President.

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) commended with caution, National Assembly's intervention and action on the political logjam from Ya'Adua's prolonged absence by making Jonathan Acting President. In a communiqué issued at the end of its two day National Executive Council meeting, NBA said the National Assembly’s resolution would only temporarily resolve the leadership crisis that the long absence of Yar’Adua created in the country. The communiqué further stated, NBA would refrain from making further commentaries about the matter until it was resolved at the appellate court.

Ya'Adua's sudden return came as a surprise to Nigerians, as a six-man ministerial team set up by the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) had only left yesterday to Saudi Arabia to assess his health status. The ministerial team flew directly to Riyadh, the Saudi capital, where they met a representative of the King and expressed appreciation for the hospitality of the Kingdom to the ailing Nigerian leader. Ya'Adua without notice, left for his journey back to Nigeria before the ministerial team could get to Jeddah where he was, a one and half hour flight from Riyadh.

*CLICK LINK BELOW TO READ OUR ARTICLE OF 15/1/10 TITLED "'Nigerian Army Watches' As Yar'Adua 'Aso Rocking' Back "

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/blog/index.php/2010/01/15/nigerian_army_watches_as_yar_adua_aso_ro

*Tags: Nigerians, Ya'Adua, Army, Military, Africa, Masterweb