*As Reps raise 7-man team to visit him

By Emmanuel Aziken, Tordue Salem & Luka Binniyat

ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed to brief the body on the health condition of President Umaru Yar‘Adua after shrugging off clamour by some of its members to commence the impeachment of the ailing President.

The summon on the SGF followed exhaustive debate on a motion proposed by 31 senators seeking to mandate a Senate delegation to ascertain and report back the state of health of the President

Meantime, the House of Representatives also raised a seven_man committee to visit the ailing helmsman in Saudi Arabia and return with a situation report.

Senators employ political intrigue in debate
The senators’ extensive debate on the health of the President was clouded with intrigues, horse trading and strong persuasion by all three senators from Katsina State to stop the debate. Their effort was overwhelmed by the determination of the majority of senators to discuss the motion.

Senate President, David Mark, who presided at yesterday’s session was also determined to guide the debate away from controversy as he repeatedly fenced out senators who made references to constitutional provisions on the removal of the President.

Before the commencement of the debate on the motion which had Senator Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu West) as lead sponsor, Senator Chris Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) had expressed dismay at the publication in a national newspaper of the contents of the motion which she said was pre-emptive of the Senate debate. Her observation was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics for investigation.

Presenting the motion, Senator Ekweremadu, while expressing relief at the news that President Yar‘Adua was alive and spoke on BBC radio yesterday morning, said: “Observing that the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, GCFR, has been out of Nigeria for about seven weeks now on ground of ill health; noting that the President of the Senate has at several occasions expressed the Senate’s best wishes for a quick recovery for Mr. President and has caused fervent prayers to be said to that effect as well;

“Noting also that while the Senate was on the Christmas and New Year recess, the anxiety of Nigerians over the absence of the President assured worrisome dimensions as expressed in several media across the country;
“Worried that in the midst of all these there is no authoritative information on the true state of affairs regarding the health of the President.

“Concerned that there has been no formal communication to the National Assembly pursuant to Section 145 of the Constitution which will empower the Vice-President to act and perform the functions of the President. We commend the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCON, on his effort to carry on the affairs of the country in the absence of the President;

“Whilst conceding that the President is entitled to attend to his health no matter how long that may take, notes that there is need for the Senate to be certain of the true state of affairs to enable her take appropriate action as the entire country now looks up to the Senate for direction;

“Accordingly, the Senate resolves to send a delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ascertain the situation and report thereon within one week.”

His motion was seconded by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim (ANPP, Yobe South).

Supporting the motion, he said: “I totally agree to the presentation of the distinguished Senate President. What we are asking for is very definite and very definite move to send a delegation to Saudi Arabia for us as senators.

I don’t think that there is anything controversial. So I appeal to my colleagues to support this motion so that we can go ahead with our work.”