Senators draw battle line over Yar’Adua Vs Jonathan.
Aondoakaa (SAN) Senators are divided over the President’s fate.
Members reconvene today to debate the report on a meeting between the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) and some lawyer-senators over President Umaru Yar’Adua’s refusal to handover power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
The debate will focus on whether Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan should be sworn in or not as acting president.
Investigations by The Nation revealed that the report has recommended that the judgment of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Dan Abutu, should subsist for the Vice-President to exercise presidential powers.
Besides, the report advised the Senate to come up with a resolution advising the Federal Executive Council to allow the VP exercise presidential powers.
Although only Senator Audu Idris Umar from Gombe has a copy of the report, it was gathered that those seeking Jonathan’s inauguration have got a hint of the recommendation and the split at the AGF-lawyer-senators’ meeting.
The 109-member Senate has broken into three camps, with principal officers pitching tent in different groups.
The groups are those for Yar’Adua; pro-Jonathan; and the undecided.
While the Yar’Adua Group is standing by the judgment of the Federal High Court, the pro-Jonathan senators, who began an emergency meeting last night in Abuja, have vowed not to accept the report.
A confidant and friend of the President, Senator Ibrahim Ida from Katsina State, is leading the lobbying to save Yar’Adua’s job.
Apart from personal discussions with each Senator, Ibrahim is said to have been meeting all caucuses in the Senate.
A highly-placed source said: "We are set for a serious battle in the Senate over the report. All the groups have been meeting to re-strategise on the way forward.
"The President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, seems to appreciate the division and he has been using his foot-soldiers in the Senate to calm frayed nerves.
"I think to avoid a rowdy plenary; the Senate might still opt for an executive session to consider the report.
"But the fact is that the tension is high now over the report. Most senators returned to Abuja on Monday instead of Tuesday for horse-trading."
Findings by our correspondent revealed the identities of those in the three camps.
Those standing by Yar’Adua include some ex-governors in the Senate such as Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), George Akume (Benue), Ahmad Sani Yerima (Zamfara) Kabir Gaya (Kano), Maina Maaji Lawan (Borno) and Joseph Akaagerger (Katsina).
Others in the group are: Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Deputy Majority, Mohammed Maina, Hajiya Gbemisola Saraki, Mohammed Ahmed, Simeon Ajibola, Umaru Dahiru, Ayo Arise, Nicholas Ugbane, Yisa Braimoh, Odion Ugbesia, Garba Yakubu Lado, Tanko Ayuba, Tafida Argungu, Ibrahim Mohammed Ida, Suleiman Adokwe, Adamu Garba Talba, Hassan Gusau, Sahabi Alhaji Yau, Dahiru Gasol and Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan.
The pro-Jonathan group includes: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Bala Muhammed, Smart Adeyemi, Ehigie Uzamere, Abubakar Gada, Heineken Lokpobiri, Bassey Ewa-Hensaw, Isiaka Adeleke, Satty Davies Gogwim, Olorunninbe Mamora, Munir Muse, Ganiyu Solomon, Omar Hambagda, Grace Bent, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Eyinnaya Abaribe, James Manager, Sidi Ali, Suleiman Nazif, Mohammed Mohammed, Adamu Mohammed Sidi Ali, S.N. Anyanwu and Chris Anyanwu.
Others are Nuhu Aliyu, Chris Ola, Danlami Ikenya, Bode Olajumoke, ex-Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Andrew Babalola, Aloysius Akpan Etok, Effiong Bob, Anthony Agbo, Uche Chukwumerije, Annie Okonkwo, Joy Emodi, Ikechukwu Obiorah, Paulker Emmanuel and Nima Bangha-Amanze among others.
The undecided Senators are Iyiola Omisore, Zainab Kure, Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, John Shagaya, Lekan Mustapha, Otaru Ohize, Anthony Mazo, Mujitaba Mallam, Patricia Akwashiki, Abubakar Sodangi, Sola Akindele, Jibril Aminu (rated as passive to the issue), Kaka Malam Yale and Gyang Dantong.
A source in the pro-Jonathan camp, who spoke in confidence, said: "The report of the AGF-lawyer-senators’ meeting is already known to us, despite the fact that it is being hidden. We are going to insist that the report cannot stop us from pushing for the inauguration of the Vice-President as acting President.
"If you ask the Senate to stand by the judgment of the Federal High Court, the Vice-President is still a VP no matter the presidential powers vested on him.
"We are saying that we need an acting president, not a vice-president. For what reasons would anyone say that a VP cannot act as president.
"More senators have resolved to insist on the inauguration of the VP as acting president. Even people that we thought will not join the pro-Jonathan group have signed up for the inauguration of the Vice-President.
"We are going to meet on Monday night to fine-tune our strategy for Tuesday’s meeting."
Responding to a question, the source added: "For what purpose; we won’t chicken out. Our case for Jonathan is based on personal conviction that this nation must move forward."
As at press time, it was gathered that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has infiltrated the Senate.
The PDP is said to be using a second term ticket as weapon of blackmail against its members in the Senate.
Another Senator said: "I am aware that the PDP has reached out to some senators from its fold with a threat that they may lose a second term ticket if they do not support Yar’Adua.
"Some of these PDP senators are afraid because the Supreme Court had given a judgment which says a party has the responsibility to choose its candidate for any poll."
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