Nigerians demand to see president

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Africa

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 12:16

By Agencies

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Yar'Adua, who returned to Nigeria on February 24, has not been seen in public for months [EPA] Thousands of Nigerian activists have staged a march to demand the sacking of the cabinet and a public appearance by ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.

The police stopped around 5,000 protesters on Wednesday, who were led by prominent Lagos pastor Tunde Bakare.

Marching toward the presidential villa, demonstrators had planned to present their demands to Goodluck Jonathan, the acting president.

The secretary to the government of the federation, Yayale Ahmed, received the demands of the activists - which included the dissolution of the cabinet, divided over the health of Yar'Adua.

"The acting president has asked me to assure you that your demands will be looked into with immediate effect. You want to know the status of health of the president... you will not be denied of it," Ahmed told the protesters on Wednesday.

Leadership confusion

Yar'Adua, 58, who returned to Nigeria on February 24 after spending 93 days in Jeddah, where he was being treated for acute pericarditis, has not been seen in public since his arrival.

His return threw the country into confusion and revived concerns of a leadership squabble just two weeks after Jonathan was installed as acting president.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili has advised her colleagues to invoke the relevant section of the constitution which paves the way for his removal from office.

She also accused Yar'Adua's aides of lying about his health.

The protesters, who were blocked from gaining entry into the national assembly, also demanded the implementation of the report of a committee on electoral reforms.

Nigeria has a long history of flawed elections and activists have called for comprehensive electoral reforms ahead of the 2011 general elections.

"We will continue to mobilise Nigerians... to engage in public action, including protests and strike action until these demands are fully implemented in the interest of peace, security and genuine democracy," Bakare told reporters.