A president Missing In Action, whose health status is unknown. A Vice President who has had power handed to him, but appears unwilling or unable to wield it. A country in limbo. That isnt a scene from 24, the hit tv series. That was Nigeria in 2009. The then opposition Action Congress (AC) called on the Federal Government to give daily updates on the health of then President Musa Yaradua. It also asked the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to put the nation’s interest and start the process of determining whether the President was fit enough to continue in office or do the needful. Eventually circumstances forced the needful to happen.
In a twist of fate, the tables have been turned. The APC is now the dominant political party. The then spokesman of the Action Congress, Lai Mohammed is now the Minister of Information. Rather than echoe similar statements, what we have is grave yard silence. A presidential spokesman, who has not spoken to his boss. A president who whose date of return is unknown. The curious tale of a president who spoke to his vice, but is either unwilling or unable to address the nation. History repeating itself, but lessons appear not to have been learnt.
Meanwhile the country appears to be in a “mannequin pose”. Full of acting officials with no power to act. Critical board appointments not yet made. Sandwiched between a recession and various sectarian crisis. While we stand still, the world passes us by. Will the APC stand up and meet its own standards ? Or shall we go through the motions of Yaradua gate once more ?
