Both Houses of the National Assembly today passed separate motions authorizing the handing-over of power to the Vice-President as prescribed by Nigeria’s constitution. The Senate, in a near unanimous decision, resolved that that Goodluck Jonathan take over as "Acting President and the Commander-in-chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces" until such a time that Umaru Yar'Adua returns from medical treatment in Saudi Arabia and transmits a letter indicating that he is medically fit to resume his duties. 
Curiously, the Senate based its decision, which was broadcast on live television, upon Yar'Adua's interview on BBC four weeks ago in which he said he would resume duties when his doctors certify him fit.  The House decided that broadcast transmitted the message that he was unwell and undertaking medical treatment.

A few hours later, the House of Representatives, which only a few days ago maintained that Yar’Adua was healthy enough to continue in office, adopted a similar motion to that of the Senate, for power to be transmitted to Jonathan Goodluck as the "Acting President and the Commander-in-chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces" .



It was not immediately clear what the immediate impact of the resolutions of the legislature mean, and whether the Chief Justice of the Federation, whose own office is in doubt, since he was sworn in by someone other than the President, contrary to constitutional provisions, will be swearing in Mr. Jonathan as the "Acting President."  Our sources said this is unlikely.

It was also not clear, today, whether Mr. Jonathan would be interested in moving forward on the basis of this development, as he might insist on a formal letter from the president.  Last Friday, the BBC quoted an un-named adviser to Yar’Adua as saying such a letter was forthcoming.  So far, Jonathan has not shown any fire of any kind.

Today marks the 78th day since Yar'Adua was evacuated from Nigeria on a medical emergency, as was exclusively revealed by Saharareporters on November 23 2009. Since departing Nigeria he has not been seen in public by anyone. His wife and two close aides are the only persons that claim access to him.

But his departure and subsequent inability to communicate did not prevent a notorious gang of his loyalists from engaging in massive looting, forgery of documents and manipulation of the public. However the cabinet crumbled last week Wednesday when a female cabinet member, Dora Akunyili, the Minister of Information, submitted a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), urging the body to reverse a decision earlier taken that claimed that Yar'Adua was capable of discharging his duties.

The memo which was immediately shot down by the hawks and pretenders within the cabinet, may have emboldened several officers of the regime to embarking on practicing a new song, as it became clear that Yar'Adua could not return despite efforts by his wife and loyalists to confuse the world about his state of health.

Tomorrow is the weekly meeting of the FEC, at which Mrs. Akunyili’s re-submitted memo is expected to be on the agenda.  While some members of the cabinet are known to have been re-considering their positions as well as their political future, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether, in view of today’s developments, the body insists that Yar’Adua is fit to continue.
 
“Members of the FEC basically have 24 hours to pen their own destiny,” a Saharareporters analyst said in Abuja this afternoon.  “When they address the press after their meeting tomorrow, they must understand nothing will ever be the same again.”

As for the legislature, he said, “The National Assembly has played only the cards in one hand;it now remains to be seen what the cards in the other hand contain, because again, their resolutions today did not carry any information as to how to move forward.  They can still be stalling for time: trying to appear to be doing the right thing, because they know Nigerians have lost faith in them, while hoping Yar’Adua will show up in a day or two, on video footage with an airport background, to say he is on his way home.”