Former Senate President David Mark has refuted claims by ex-Youth Development and Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi regarding the origin of the Doctrine of Necessity. Mark stated that the initiative to invoke the doctrine came from the Senate, not the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) under former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki. The doctrine enabled then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to assume office as Acting President.
At the public unveiling of Abdullahi’s memoir, “The Loyalist,” Mark emphasized that the move was a legislative decision, uninfluenced by any individual or group from Kwara State. Abdullahi had claimed that the NGF, led by Saraki, first advanced the idea of the Doctrine of Necessity, contrary to the widely held view that it originated from the National Assembly.
The Doctrine of Necessity was invoked by the Senate on February 10, 2010, to swear in Jonathan as Acting President, following President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence due to ill health. The resolution granted Jonathan full presidential authority pending Yar’Adua’s recovery and return. In his autobiography, Abdullahi disclosed that Saraki contacted him to draft a statement proposing the idea to the National Assembly, which he claimed was the first time he heard of the term “Doctrine of Necessity.”
Mark dismissed any link between the doctrine and Saraki or Kwara State, stating that the initiative was the Senate’s sole responsibility. He described the mission to rescue Nigeria as collective and emphasized that the Doctrine of Necessity has nothing to do with Kwara State or anyone from the state. The former Senate President’s clarification provides insight into the events surrounding the invocation of the doctrine, which marked a significant turning point in Nigeria’s political history.
The controversy surrounding the Doctrine of Necessity highlights the complexities of Nigeria’s political landscape during the Yar’Adua presidency. The doctrine’s invocation was a response to the power vacuum created by Yar’Adua’s absence, and its implementation had far-reaching implications for the country’s governance. As Nigeria continues to navigate its political challenges, understanding the events surrounding the Doctrine of Necessity remains essential for contextualizing the country’s ongoing development.
