Saisie à Gauche

Opinions are mixed as yesterday's Nigerian senate announced that Goodluck Jonathan would be taking the reigns of the country until the ailing president Yar'Adua was able to return. The decision has moved the government forward in the way our own 25th amendment would have resolved the situation, but comes among murmurs because of the extenuating circumstances. Yar'Adua was known as a muslim, while Jonathan is Christian. As mentioned in previous blogs, there is also suspicion that the ex-President Obasanjo, who gave his blessing to Yar'Adua during the campaign, may have suspected and even counted on the man's health to take him out of office, and placing Obasanjo's godson, Jonathan, in it.

While the decision does not permanently decree Jonathan to be the new president, his power, and thus the power of the Christians, have been increased due to his new status.

Current politics aside, this decision is all momentous in Nigeria's regulatory history. This decision will doubtlessly be used a precedent if this case or a similar case arises in the future. Though it is, as of now, unique to this case, legislation putting the ideas supported here will hopefully come soon, putting more stability into Nigeria's current law book.

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Yar’adua: Senate Mulls Impeachment

President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s deteriorating health has been causing concern throughout the Nigerian government for some time now, and after being out of the country for 78 days, it seems to have finally gotten to a point where the rest of the government is finally starting to try to push other options, with impeachment at the top of their thoughts.
Section 143 of Nigeria’s constitution demands that the President should transmit a medical vacation letter to the National Assembly to enable Vice President Goodluck Jonathan act as president in his absence” within a reasonable amount of time, and the state governors feel that that time frame has passed. State governors want the Senate to pass a resolution declaring Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to be Acting President, though this kind of act is not mentioned in the Constitution at all. Due to the President’s failure to comply with the Senate’s resolution, they will be sitting again in the near future to decide on what further action to take.
There were plans of swearing the Vice President in today (2/9/10), but the constitution does not provide for this power, and even if the motion to have him sworn in is passed, it will not make it a law and will therefore be unconstitutional. Goodluck Jonathan cannot become Acting President through a motion. The Senate will have to continue to meet and try to think of different, viable solutions to the President’s continued absence.
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Unity

The 14th African Summit has decided to establish the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) as a replacement for the NEPAD secretariat. The NPCA was originally meant to facilitate the implementation and coordination of continental and regional programs and projects, as well as help mobilize Africa's resources.

The change will promote the integration of the new NEPAD into structures already in place in Africa, and will hopefully help improve the continent's situation.

Hopefully the improvement of NEPAD will bleed down into promoting stability in Nigeria. One of the major issues Africa has always faced is division, but the African Summits have been good for helping unity. If the continent manages to come together, then the political situations should at least make motions toward lasting stability. Of course the micro here will ultimately be key, but the macro of Africa as a whole cannot be ignored.

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Militants Angered over Absence of Yar'Adua

Yar'Adua's absence and refusal to transfer power to Goodluck Jonathan continue to leave the country in turgid waters. Aside from the obvious aspects the absence is having on the fragile governmental leadership of Nigeria, it has sprung a new leak in the incitement of over 50 militant groups to threats against the government. These militant groups are all operating in the Network of Freedom Fighters in the Niger Delta. The NFF put forth this comment "We warn that if the government fails to abide by the provision of the constitution we will join forces and direct our strategic units to commence hostilities which will lead to a black day for the country. We also call on the international community to suspend forthwith all bilateral relations and dealings with Nigeria pending the swearing in of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President while waiting for the quick recovery of Yar'Adua; else we will not guarantee the safety of foreign citizens working in the Niger Delta." Government officials are pleading with militant groups to exercise patience, not quickly jump to violence, with the hopes of upholding the tentative peace that has been achieved in the region.

All Africa : Militants Angered

Privatisation of Telecoms

Reuters Africa: Nigeria to open bids for Nitel

The Nigerian Bureau of Public Enterprise has opened up bidding on the state Telecoms firm Nitel. The privatization of the Teleceom industry is just a small step in Nigeria's extensive privatization and commercialization goals laid out by the government and implemented by the BPE. Interestingly, of the many companies slated for varying degrees of privatization, a large proportion are only partially going on the market while maintaining government majority ownership.

On the BPE's website they claim that the Nigerian public can take part in the IPOs. Also, some companies are only being offered to the employees. Interesting blend of socialism and capitalism.