Some young members of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) are planning a showdown with other members of the cabinet in a bid to get a letter from President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to enable Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan act as the President. 

THISDAY gathered that some of the younger elements in EXCOF are planning to support the position of Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who had last week asked that the President send in a vacation letter. 

This coincides with a fresh demand by the Action Congress (AC) that EXCOF rescinds its decision that the ailing President is fit. 
THISDAY also learnt that the planned trip of four members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Saudi Arabia to see the President has been put off at the last hour. 

It was resolved at the last meeting of the committee that the National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Harilu Bello Mohammed, National Secretary, Alhaji Abubukar Kawu Baraje, and Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo, should travel to Saudi Arabia to see the President. No reason was given for the change of action for which flights tickets had already been bought. 

In EXCOF, one of the young elements said: “This Wednesday is a decision and drama day for the members of the Federal Executive Council as the young professionals amongst the ministers are battle ready for the discussion on the President’s future.” 

The Minister said they had tried to be “patient, understanding and stupidly loyal” by staying the course “based on the sensitivity and sensibility of the nation”.

However, the Minister said: “We have vowed that Wednesday (February 10) is the day to resolve or dissolve, as we will insist that power be handed over to the Vice-President to stem the tide of polarisation and drift in the country.

“We also have expressed full support for the memo by the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, as well as the call by the Nigeria Governors Forum that power of authority should be transferred to the Vice-President.”
Giving details for their change of mind, the minister said: “Our hard-earned reputation, character, ethical standing and moral uprightness are being questioned by this conspiracy of silence.”

Meanwhile, AC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed said: “Today, as always, we demand that the President should immediately transmit a letter to the National Assembly saying he is proceeding on a medical vacation, as the necessary pre-requisite for Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act as President. We demand that the Federal Executive Council should jettison their recent decision, not supported by the facts on the ground, that the President is not ‘incapable’ of performing the functions of his office.”