21st May, 2010
The Action Congress (AC) has said it stands by its earlier statement calling on the Federal Government to probe the mismanagement of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua‘s illness.
The party’s National Secretary, Dr. Usman Bugaje, said the clarification became necessary in view of the statement credited to a member of the party, Chief Tom Ikimi, that the call represented the opinion of our National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“Chief Ikimi apparently did not take time to read and understand the party’s stand, that the way and manner the late President’s health was handled should be probed. We are not calling for a probe his death, which is a different issue altogether.
“We reiterate here that such a probe will help our country avoid the kind of misinformation and circus show that permeated the polity during the late President’s illness, and it will help to ensure that necessary dignity is accorded to any leader who may find himself in similar situations in future.
“In any case, Chief Ikimi is neither a member of the party’s national EXCO nor that of its NWC. The elders’ caucus, of which Chief Ikimi is a member, meets once in every two or three months and the party cannot wait for such meetings before taking its usual stand on burning national issues.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the party stands by the earlier statement issued by Alhaji Lai Mohammed. We have absolute confidence in his (Alhali Lai Mohammed) ability and competence to effectively represent the party and project its image at all times, as he has done all through the years,†AC said.
The party said it was among the first to commiserate with the Yar’Adua family and the entire Nigerian people on the death of the late President. The National Chairman and National Secretary of the party also led the party’s delegation to Katsina to attend the burial.
“We did that because it was the right thing to do, not to appeal to some cheap emotions,†it said.