THE PRESIDENT CAN RULE FROM ANYWHERE

THE POLITICS OF PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA’S HEALTH AND EXECUTIVE INSTABILITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyze the problem of executive instability and conflicts arising from the interpretation of the constitution by federal legislature. It posits that the dominance of sectional interests in the Nigerian politics heightens executive instability and the interpretations of the provisions of the constitution tend to increase political instability, tension and conflict. The pervasive political instability within the executive arm arising from the long absence of President Yar’Adua from office became a major political issue in Nigeria from November 2009 to March 2010. For nearly five months there was absence of executive President in Nigeria, yet his kitchen cabinet saw nothing wrong in this situation. The article argues that in serious government business, such absence could undermine the stability of the executive branch and the policy-making capacity of public authority, if power is not transmuted to constitutionally mandated person. It concluded that political uncertainty has pointed towards a constitutional crisis when President Umaru Yar’Adua took ill and was flown out to Saudi Arabia in November 2009 to be treated for acute pericarditis. His long absence from his executive position as the President without transferring power to his Vice President and the purported return raised succession questions and challenged the power of the National Assembly in resolving the crisis. The article adopted a methodology involving qualitative research based on a review of extant literature.