National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have joined the array of supporters who made the journey to Saudi Arabia but could not gain access to ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Similarly, Governors Gabriel Suswam of Benue, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, who jetted out of the country last Thursday for the same purpose, could not see him.

Yar’Adua has not been seen in public since he left the country in November 23, 2009.  His only public utterance was a BBC interview in January meant to refute rumours that he was dead. It lasted less than three seconds and he spoke with much effort.
Several groups including members of the House of Representatives who embarked on a fact-finding mission to Saudi Arabia came back without seeing him.

THISDAY learnt that efforts by the Ogbulafor team to see Yar’Adua were rebuffed by Saudi security officials attached to the President.
Instead, they were allowed to meet with the first lady, Turai, and the Nigerian Ambassador to the country, Abdullahi Aminchi.
Others in the team were the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, the National Secretary, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, and the Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo.

They arrived Saudi Arabia last Saturday and secured an appointment to see Turai that night. The governors also saw the President’s wife and his ADC.
“All I can say for now is that Isa Yuguda, who is an in-law to the President with Garbiel Suswam and Ibrahim Shema, the governor of the President’s home state, have seen and discussed with the wife of the President,” said a source who spoke to THISDAY.
He continued: “The Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia facilitated an easier way for the discussion, but they are yet to see the President as we speak now.”

Meanwhile, the PDP chairman has headed for India for treatment after the botched visit while others in his team left for Nigeria.  The three governors are said to have headed back to the country via Dubai last Saturday.
In the absence of the President, the National Assembly passed a resolution last week empowering Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

This follows failed attempts to get Yar’Adua to send a vacation letter to the National Assembly, which would have served the same purpose.
The action has both been hailed and questioned. Those who hailed it insisted that Nigeria must go on in the absence of President Yar’Adua. Those who questioned the resolution said it was unconstitutional.

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