Nigerian Information Minister Dora Akunyili has reportedly said that the absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua was hurting the country.
News agencies have obtained a copy of a memo that Akunyili circulated to other cabinet members at a meeting Wednesday.
The memo urged the cabinet to consider asking the president to hand over power until he can return from his medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Professor Kabiru Mato, director of the political science department at the University of Abuja said he’s not surprised by minister Akunyili’s action because, according to him it’s all part of politicians trying to position themselves.
“If it is true that the minister has served the council with a contrary memo, I would think that perhaps firstly the minister is not part of that unanimous council resolution of seven days earlier, or the minister was later convinced by either her inner circle or associates to perhaps disassociate herself with an earlier resolution of council,” he said.
Mato said some political forces in Nigeria were misconstruing President Yar’Adua’s absence from the country because they desire to walk in the President’s shoes so that they may gain access to the country’s resources.
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