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"Yar’Adua has lost moral right to govern Nigeria"

I stumbled on an article pulished by Punch that question if Yar’Adua still has the moral right to govern Nigeria. It is quite a fascinating piece. Please read the article here: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200812134164526 , and leave a comment.

Tags: nigeria, shehu, yar’adua

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Permalink Reply by Ademola Shittu on December 15, 2008 at 2:22pm: I moral or Immoral what really matter is the legallity of Yar' Adua as the president of nigeria with little emphasis on grammatical disqualification or qualification,I think all that matter is for all hands to be on deck to work with the pre sent goverment on which way forward.We waited in eternity for the jugdement to be delievered and now we have the judgement so what else do we want ?, the grammartical analysis will do us no good, I think we,ve had enough of distraction, it is high time we move forward. I personaly believed that what ever happen in Nigeria is divine. The established fact is that Yar' Adua is our current president, elected or selected. So now what?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher on December 28, 2008 at 3:29am: As for me i think that the best thing that as happen to Nigeria in recent history is the selection of Yar'adua as the president of Nigeria.We should all realise that it is not easy to govern a country like Nigeria.So many things have gone bad in the past and it is gong to take time to fix them.There are so many forces trying very hard to influence the order of things in this country.All we need do for now is to keep praying and hopin that maybe in the next election a free and fair candidate might emerge.

Ademola Shittu said:
I moral or Immoral what really matter is the legallity of Yar' Adua as the president of nigeria with little emphasis on grammatical disqualification or qualification,I think all that matter is for all hands to be on deck to work with the pre sent goverment on which way forward.We waited in eternity for the jugdement to be delievered and now we have the judgement so what else do we want ?, the grammartical analysis will do us no good, I think we,ve had enough of distraction, it is high time we move forward. I personaly believed that what ever happen in Nigeria is divine. The established fact is that Yar' Adua is our current president, elected or selected. So now what?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reny on January 1, 2009 at 12:47am: There are two basic questions that need to be asked at this point regarding the apex court's decision on Yar'adua administration. Namely: 1) Was the judgment consistent with the rules of law and Nigerian constitution? 2) Did the judgment reflect the will of the people?

To answer these and resolve the riddle between the morality and legality of Yar’adua’s administration, I found it instructive to refer to the article in question (http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200812134164526) in which Chief Gani Fawehinmi compared the Supreme Court’s verdict with American 2000 election and the Supreme Court's decision that favored the outgoing President Bush. With due respect to this legal icon, Chief Gani Fahinmi, that was an unfair analogy.

American system of government is based on Electoral College. By this system of government, according to the constitution, whoever wins the most Electoral College wins the presidency. It doesn't matter what the popular votes say. The five justices that sided with President Bush felt the constitution was the governing instrument while those that decided against it felt election was about people and the majority of their will. Constitutionally, the five were right. But morally, they were wrong. The four on the other hand, were constitutionally wrong but were morally right.

But what is moral is subjective rather than objective, which is why that great country is run by the constitution and not just by mores. In a nutshell, as incredible as it may seem, the American 2000 election judgment pronounced by the Supreme Court was not far from constitutional correctness. It should not in anyway be compared to the way power hungry cabals in our country snatch the throne to suit their whims and caprices.

Nigerian constitution is NOT based on Electoral College. Rather, it is based on popular votes by the electorate. Whoever wins the most votes is considered the president. If Buhari won the popular vote, then he’s entitled to the throne. We don’t deal with Electoral Colleges in Nigeria. Popular votes are both constitutional and moral if the rules of law are to be taken into consideration. But friends, Do we really respect the constitution in Nigeria when it comes to matters concerning governing?

Annulment of popular votes is not uncommon in our motherland. Has anyone out there forgotten what happened between Ibrahim Tofa and Bashorun Moshood Abiola on June 12, 1993? Was it not crystal clear that Abiola won the vote? Why then was it annulled? Was that constitutional or moral?

We must also see what happened between Yar’adua and Buhari with the same lens. The self-interests of the few king makers and elites in the society trump the collective will of the masses, thus rendering the word ‘democracy’ meaningless in the process.

But I guess the big question is: Would common Nigerian lives in general have changed had Buhari been pronounced the winner of the election? The answer is a big NO! Why? Buhari contributed immensely to the woes of Nigerians. He and his acolytes staged the first coup in the Second Republic when Sheu Shagari’s administration was toppled. After that coup, an array of soldiers’ boots trampled the throne and wiped off the last vestige of inner peace of mind commoners enjoyed. We all know what happened during Babangida’s Maradonic days. How about Abacha and his henchmen? Or Abdusalam on whose laps Abiola died? Who out there would deny that it was the ex-military man, Olushegun Obasanjo, that paved the way to power for the current president? Was it not ironical that Buhari, who saw faults with democracy to the point of toppling it and imposing junta on Nigerians, was the same man coveting the position as a military man in the garb of “despised” democracy?

Let not the masses be deceived. There’s a lot going on behind the scene between these powerful few in our land that we do not know. But here is what we do know: Neither the “legal” government of Yar’adua nor that of supposed “moral” Buhari’s would serve as the panacea to the pains of the general populace. Our roads are in shambles. Our electricity, epileptic. Our educational system, nose-diving at an alarming rate. Unemployment in our country is all time high. Our health sector is nothing to write home about. That is why our leaders run out of the country for common headaches. The chasm between the rich and the powerful keeps getting wider and wider. Did I mention skyrocketing violence in our land? These are constant factors and Nigerians have learnt to live with them with dissatisfaction, grumbling and veiled joy. Nothing is going to change these except God’s Kingdom which the Bible says is going to put an end to human woes in totality. Until then, let no one put faith in any human government whether it is placed in the hands of Yar’adua or that of Buhari.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by olofin oluseye adekola on February 12, 2009 at 10:41am: since the succesfully handing over of governent from one civilian to another in may 29 2007, so many questions lingers on the mind of an average nigerians if at all they still exist. questions of good governance, accountability, free and qualitative health care delivery, quality education, housing,stable power supply,good road,portable water supply and just to mentioned the few.Nigeria as a whole is a land of plenty and by no means should anyone be marginalised of is daily needs,so since inception as the president of Nigeria President Yar adua has taken some key steps in taking nigeria to the path of greatness set ahead of her.The goverment is taking all the neccesary steps to makr sure that no stone is left on touch. He has not for once lost the moral right to govern this God giving country called nigeria, this statement if it well investigated, it will be to our dismay that it was those who have seen nothing good in this country than stealing public funds that has sponsored this. SInce inception, Mr. president has taken Zero tolerance on corruption and Godfatherism in the politics of this nation therefore giving hope to young and dynamics mind like us tring to bring all the neccessary changes nigeria deserved.whatever it may be from all those BIG & CROOKED LEADERS of this nation that goes under the umbrella of all our foremost nationalist that none of them can move this nation forward cos they are all an unfinished and well groomed appentice so nigeria is too big for them to handle. PERMIT ME TO SAY if the TAFAWABALEWA'S, NNAMDI AZIKWE'S,AWO,JAJA,TAI SOLARIN etc are alive will they be happy with all this our so called now GODFATHER, won't they have cause and reject all this people being under their umbrellas. They steal innocent peoples money, kill the just and go all in the name of democrats and also make all kind of propanganda "Like father like son" anytime they build or renovates roads saying they were taught by awo.zik,and balewa after they must have diverted the whole chunks of the money will all this our foremost leaders do so?. Since they've been unable to digged their hands into public funds and they are so broke won't they then sponsor a propangada "YAR ADUA HAS LOST MORAL RIGHT TO GOVERN NIGERIA".So the nation can see then as true democrat,"DEMOCRAT INDEED", and what gave them the moral right to tell nigerian and the international community this. they are just a crying lion, we know what they wnat and capable of doing and this time they should leave this man alone and let us all build this nation our future is at out finger tips and we should not allow it slip away because generation yet unborn will ask questions from all of us even if when we are far gone beyond.Lets us rally around this administration and make it a success, the mistake we keep making is that when our friends fell we mocked them not knowing people mocked us too knowing quite too well that we are associates.If yar adua succeed we all succed and if he fails, we have all failed ourselves and generation yet unborn.Let us all think on this..thank you..OLOFIN OLUSEYE; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tina Christie on March 8, 2009 at 3:07pm: At this time in life I am tired of Hausa's and the Yorubas ruling Nigeria, I strongly believe that it is time for our great country to allow an Igbo man to have his chance as the president of the federation. Everyone reading news both international and national news currently most been aware of the great change in America. For the first time a black man whose father is from Kenya is the President of the most powerful country of the world. I believe my beloved country Nigeria can do the same thing. We can strife for change, and try to proof to the world that "Change We Can." Put aside corruption within our political system and try to bring morality and honesty in the history of our great nation. Today in my church here in Washington DC, they speaker recognized Ghana as the most peaceful country in African, and Nigeria as the most corupted nation in Africa. I was completely broken when he said that. Often a time as proud as I am to be known as a Nigerian citizen, it is mind boggling when people make those kinds of painful comment about Nigeria. I do not see any morality in anyone ruling in Nigeria; starting from the President to the local government chair person. The moral behavior of all of our rullers must change so that the common citizens will follow their leadership.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ekeneza Samuel Edosa on March 9, 2009 at 4:57am: Let us look at this from a general angle, how many Nigerian President or head of state ever had the moral right to govern Nigeria? Look at the recent happenings in Rivers,Edo and now Ondo State. If INEC could not hold credible gubernatorial elections at state level, how then can INEC convince Nigerians that the election that brought Yar'Adua can be declared to have been free and fair. Taking it down history's lane, what about the Obasanjo election? Can we also agree that the 2 2/3 arguement of Akinjide in the 1979 presidential debacle vs Shagari & Awolowo,that brought Shagari to power was the best thing that happened to Nigeria . Can a fig tree give birth to cinnamon fruits. However Yar' Adua came to power is not the problem now, but where do we go from here.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ewanfoh Peter on July 25, 2009 at 7:40am: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00YNOV8_RgI; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sadjere clement on August 3, 2009 at 5:42pm: The average Nigerian has no single conscience.
When a leave stays in a soapy water, the leaf becomes a soap.
That is the sad tale of Nigeria.
The question is not if Yar'Adua has moral right to rule Nigeria.
The question is :Are Nigerians ready to be liberated from enslavement by some few greedy and myopic individuals who call themselves politicians?
I don't think we are ready
Until then lets manage Yar'Adua and his bogus 7 point Agenda.
I pray God help us!!!!!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joshua Ameh on August 4, 2009 at 8:27am: hello tina,
i agree with you to some extend but i dont think that that's the problem with nigeria.
the basic problem we are facing is a mental problem which need the grace of GOD to be subdue honestly igbo, hausa, yoruba are nt the issue pls.

Tina Christie said:
At this time in life I am tired of Hausa's and the Yorubas ruling Nigeria, I strongly believe that it is time for our great country to allow an Igbo man to have his chance as the president of the federation. Everyone reading news both international and national news currently most been aware of the great change in America. For the first time a black man whose father is from Kenya is the President of the most powerful country of the world. I believe my beloved country Nigeria can do the same thing. We can strife for change, and try to proof to the world that "Change We Can." Put aside corruption within our political system and try to bring morality and honesty in the history of our great nation. Today in my church here in Washington DC, they speaker recognized Ghana as the most peaceful country in African, and Nigeria as the most corupted nation in Africa. I was completely broken when he said that. Often a time as proud as I am to be known as a Nigerian citizen, it is mind boggling when people make those kinds of painful comment about Nigeria. I do not see any morality in anyone ruling in Nigeria; starting from the President to the local government chair person. The moral behavior of all of our rullers must change so that the common citizens will follow their leadership.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ibrahim akinfemi on August 22, 2009 at 1:22pm: Hello,fellows out there!.What are we really saying?Our federal government have preferred to remain stagnant on his 7points agenda, the country situation is just the same,please aren't we tired of all this.; ▶ Reply to This