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Nigerian Information Minister Asks to Resign

   Political  scientist  Kabiru  Mato  of  the  University  of Abuja says
   Minister  Dora  Akunyili  should step down if she's convinced that the
   long absence of President Yar'Adua is unconstitutional

   James Butty | Washington, DC 05 February 2010

   Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua

   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.

   The  Nigerian cabinet has twice passed resolutions saying Mr. Yar'Adua
   is  fit  to govern despite the president's more-than-two-month stay in
   Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.

   Mato  said Information Minister Akunyili's reported memo does not mean
   that the cabinet is split.

   He  said  Akunyili  should  tender her resignation if she is convinced
   that the president's long absence is unconstitutional.

   "It  shouldn't  be  seen  as  a split against the cabinet. I think the
   minister  should  go  ahead  and  take  the most honorable position by
   perhaps  resigning  her  appointment  as a minister if she's convinced
   that what obtains now is unconstitutional," Mato said.

   Mato  said  Nigeria's  foreign  affairs minister also told journalists
   Thursday  that  the  cabinet  was  united  and  that  it  stood by its
   resolution  that  President  Yar'Adua was indeed capable of continuing
   his mandate following his medical treatment.

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