Contacts at the topmost level of the Nigerian ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have whispered to chidi opara reports that the party is considering organizing mass rallies in major cities in Nigeria in support of the ailing President, Umaru Yar'Adua, who have been receiving medical attention for a heart ailment for over forty days now in an unknown location.
The President as first reported by chidi opara reports travelled first to Saudi Arabia without formally handing over to the Vice-president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as stipulated by the constitution. This, according to reports seriously affected governance, with some lawyers declaring actions taken by the Federal Executive Council headed by the Vice-president as null and void.
These legal opinions in turn triggered off agitations by activists for a constitutional change in the office of the President.
What goaded the PDP leadership to start considering the option of mass rallies, according to these contacts is the recent move by a group that goes by the name "Save Nigeria", to draw out prominent Nigerians like Chief Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu and Professor Wole Soyinka to participate in a mass rally in Abuja in support of constitutional change of baton in the Presidency. "We are not afraid of you journalists and the lawyers, but we are concerned when it comes to mass rallies, so now we want to organize our own." One contact revealed to us.
These rallies we learnt would feature prominent traditional rulers, businessmen and politicians from the six geo-political zones of the country. The rallies would start from Abuja, then move to Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu and finally to Kaduna. "These rallies would show the outside world that Nigerians still want Yar'Adua", another contact explained to chidi opara reports.
Modalities for the rallies we learnt, would be worked out by a public relations consultancy associated with the immediate past President, rtd. general Olusegun Obasanjo. Funding is expected to be provided by six young billionaire businessmen, most of whom are known to be Obasanjo's proteges.
We do not so far have information regarding Obasanjo's direct involvement in the scheme.
