Nigerian party slams cabinet
2009-12-03 15:08
Lagos - A Nigerian opposition party on Thursday criticised the cabinet for backing President Umaru Yar'Adua against calls that he should resign due to ill health, accusing ministers of acting purely in their own self-interest.
The cabinet, or Federal Executive Council, unanimously agreed on Wednesday there were no grounds on which to seek the president's resignation, rejecting calls for him to quit or let a panel of doctors determine whether he is fit to govern.
The 58-year-old leader was flown to a clinic in Saudi Arabia 10 days ago after complaining of chest pains and has been diagnosed with acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane around the heart that can restrict normal beating.
The opposition Action Congress party described the cabinet's decision as "unprincipled, self-serving and predictable" and said its assertion that government was functioning properly in Yar'Adua's absence was "the biggest joke of the year".
Ability to rule
"Misguided loyalty and enlightened self interest are the reasons this Federal Executive Council cannot be decisive at a time that calls for nothing but uncommon courage," Action Congress spokesperson Lai Mohammed said in a statement.
"The council members are all appointees of the president, who believe they owe their lofty positions to his benevolence rather than their own competence," the statement said.
It called on the government to give daily briefings on the health of the president in order to stem rumour mongering.
The cabinet came out strongly backing Yar'Adua on Wednesday after at least nine Nigerian newspaper front pages carried a statement reportedly signed by more than 50 public figures calling on him to resign or allow a medical panel to determine his ability to rule, as provided for by the constitution.
Small illness
At least two have since publicly denied signing the statement.
Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa told reporters a full disclosure by Yar'Adua's chief physician showed he was recovering from a "small illness" and that unless any contrary medical evidence was produced, there were no grounds to the calls for him to resign or face the medical panel.
Yar'Adua's stay in a clinic in the Red Sea port of Jeddah is the latest in a series of overseas medical trips which have raised concern about his fitness. He has in the past visited Saudi Arabia and Germany to treat a chronic kidney problem.
Pericarditis usually lasts one to three weeks, but is treatable with drugs or, in extreme cases, surgery.
The Daily Trust newspaper, citing Nigerian officials in Saudi Arabia, said on Wednesday that Yar'Adua was out of intensive care but that only his wife and Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia had been allowed to visit him.