Debate on President Yar’ Adua’s health: no go area - Senate
Posted by Jenson Okereke on December 3rd 2009
President Umar Musa Yar' Adua of Nigeria
Senate President David mark made a tactical manoeuvre of the attempt made by Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba to get the Senate to debate the President’s health condition on Tuesday.
Citing order 42 and 52 of Senate Standing Rule, Ndoma-Egba, asked the Senate to be allowed to present a motion on the President’s health. According to Ndoma-Egba, “Mr. President, the subject of my motion, which I discussed with you yesterday and this morning, is the state of health of our dear President, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Apparently showing that he was not in support of raising such motion at this time, the Senate President, Mark, did not waste time as he quickly interrupted him and said, “Distinguished colleagues, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba discussed a motion, which he intends to raise this morning with me. Basically, it is just to ask us and the nation to continue to pray for the improvement and quick recovery of the President. That is the summary of the motion. I have no problem with it. But as is required by Oder 42, I have to seek the consent of the Senate and if we are up to one-fifth in support of his moving the motion, then we allow him to raise the motion.”
But as was expected, when the question was put before the Senators for a vote, there was a resounding and total negative reaction on the attempt to raise the motion.
However, analyzing this development, experts in legislative matters said that what happened in the Senate was instructive – given the fact that such a debate – if allowed to flourish is likely to raise some unacceptable comments that could further heighten tension and speculations over the President’s health. This is quite understandable as the opposition would like to capitalize on such opportunity to pass uncomplimentary comments that could possible send wrong signals to the nation and outside world. They therefore commended the political brinkmanship of Mark on the issue.
As it is now, information reaching the nation says that the President is recuperating and wouls soon come back to resume duties. The president was diagnosed of suffering from a disease of the outer covering of the heart called pericarditis.
