…says Bauchi governor was just invited to chair campaign, insists initiative originated from him
*L-R: Senator Smart Adeyemi and Senator Bala Mohammed.
Former Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has faulted Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, over claims concerning the origin and ownership of the political campaign that preceded the National Assembly’s invocation of the “Doctrine of Necessity” in 2010.
In February 2010, the National Assembly adopted a resolution empowering the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to act as President under what became widely known as the “Doctrine of Necessity.” The move was intended to resolve the constitutional vacuum and enable the Federal Government to function as a result of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence. Jonathan subsequently became Acting President and later President following Yar’Adua’s death in May 2010.
Adeyemi, who was active in the media and political space at the time, in a statement said the initiative was conceived and coordinated by him and a group of media professionals and political actors to build public pressure on the National Assembly to resolve the constitutional uncertainty.
He specifically disputed claims attributed to Mohammed that the Bauchi governor initiated or personally led the campaign.Adeyemi said Mohammed was invited to join the campaign and serve as its chairman principally because of his political standing and to give the initiative broader national visibility.
“Bala is lying. He didn’t initiate the ‘Doctrine of Necessity.’ I invited him to a meeting in Asokoro to be the chairman, and I said I would serve as secretary to coordinate media publicity and propaganda,” Adeyemi alleged in a statement.
He further claimed that the campaign received significant media support from journalists and media professionals, including Mallam Yusuf Alli of The Nation and Taiwo Adisa of The Tribune.
According to Adeyemi,Mohammed’s role was largely that of a political figurehead, while he coordinated the publicity and media aspects of the campaign.
“He was just a figurehead to ensure national spread,” he alleged.
Adeyemi also claimed that Mohammed did not grant interviews or participate extensively in the media campaign.
“Bala never had any interview during the crusade of the Doctrine of Necessity. All the publicity and publications were through me,” he said.
The former senator further alleged that Mohammed was initially reluctant to participate in the campaign but agreed after he was persuaded that the media would support the initiative.
“Before we talked to the media, I told them I invited Senator Bala Mohammed to chair the campaign for national spread. He was reluctant until I persuaded him that the media would back us,” Adeyemi said.
He added that Mohammed only became publicly involved after he persuaded him to speak on the issue.
“He knew nothing until I brought him up to speak once on the issue,” Adeyemi alleged.
The former senator challenged Mohammed to produce evidence to substantiate any claim that he originated the campaign.
“Ask any Mallam if I’m telling a lie,” Adeyemi said, insisting that the historical record should accurately reflect the roles played by the individuals involved.
“He cannot take credit for what he never originated,” he added.
*The 2010 constitutional crisis*
The controversy dates back to the political and constitutional crisis that followed Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence from office because of ill health in 2009 and 2010.
The President’s failure to formally transmit a letter to the National Assembly temporarily transferring presidential powers to then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan created uncertainty over who had constitutional authority to exercise presidential powers.
The situation generated intense political and constitutional debate, with growing calls for the National Assembly to take action to prevent a leadership vacuum.
On February 9, 2010, the National Assembly adopted what became popularly known as the “Doctrine of Necessity”, enabling Jonathan to function as Acting President pending Yar’Adua’s return.
Jonathan subsequently became President following Yar’Adua’s death on May 5, 2010, and later contested and won the 2011 presidential election.
Bala Mohammed’s account
Mohammed, who was a senator at the time and belonged to the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), has been quoted as saying that he played a central role in advancing the historic Doctrine of Necessity resolution in the Senate.
According to the governor, his intervention was motivated by the need to uphold constitutional order, defend the rule of law and ensure the continuity of government during a period of national uncertainty.
He has also maintained that his position was driven by national interest rather than ethnic, regional or partisan considerations.
The competing accounts have now reopened debate over the individuals and groups that mobilised political and public support for the National Assembly’s intervention in 2010.