UMARU:WHERE IS THY RULE OF LAW

When President Umaru Musa Yar'adua assumed office on the 27th of may 2007,he promised nigerians among other things,his administration's respect for the rule of law.Nigerians commended the president for making that promise,especially considering his predecessor's penchant for disregarding judicial pronouncements mostly towards the end of his tenure.

Yar'adua traveled to saudi arabia on the 23rd of november 2009 to attend to his health at the king faisal specialist hospital and research centre.he is said to be nursing acute pericarditis(an inflammation of the membrane around the heart).Yar'adua,like every other human being can fall ill.But,as i write this piece,he has been away for 64 days.The vacuum created by his absence is politically dangerous and an open invitation to chaos.one would have thought the rule of law apostle would have transmitted a letter asking that vice president Goodluck Jonathan should act for him to the national assembly,as enshrined in section 145 of the constitution,which says,"Whenever the president transmits to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office,until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the vice president as acting president".

If there is any time the president needs to prove his sincerity as regards his rule of law sermon,it is now.To say Yaraua's administration has been a disaster is an understatement.Although that is not the purpose of writing this article.Obviosly,the president is surrounded by professional sycophants who have refused to advice him to do the right thing.People whose selfish interests is more important to them than the nation's interest.kudos to the save nigeria group and other human rights groups led by the ebullient prof wolle soyinka,tough talking pastor tunde bakare,combative barrister femi falana and ever consistent mrs odumakin and others for pouring out on the streets of lagos and abuja to express the feelings of majority of nigerians.Indeed,enough is enough.

This writer expects the national assembly to commence an impeachment process against this go-slow president for breaching the constitution,but here in nigeria,it's a known fact that it is easier for a needle to pass the camel's eye than for those lousy,un-elected 'People Destruction Party'(PDP) members to boot out this lethargic leader.All well meaning nigerians should join the clarion call for Yaradua to handover to Jonathan.The stability of this nation is threatend and we cannot afford to keep quiet.Pastors,imams,traditional rulers,elder statesmen,youths and women associations,professional buisness men and women and nigerians in diaspora.This is the time to speak with one voice and not allow religious and etnic sentiments to becloud our sense of judgement.Nigerians should not allow one desperate ailing man,his greedy wife and kleptomaniac retinue of friends to hold this nation to ransome.We must all say GO UMARU,GO.