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Latest update: 12/01/2010
- African politics - Nigeria
President re-emerges after seven-week absence
Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua broke seven weeks of silence on Tuesday, telling the BBC he was recovering from a heart condition, amid growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians over the political uncertainty of the country.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua said in his first interview since going into hospital in Saudi Arabia seven weeks ago for a heart condition that he was recovering, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
Speculation over his health and the fact that he had maintained executive powers despite his silence had brought growing unease in the oil-producing country of 140 million.
Nigerian religious leaders, politicians and educators plan a mass rally in Abuja on Tuesday to demand that the government put an end to the uncertainty.
The British Broadcasting Corporation said Yar’Adua had spoken by telephone.
“At the moment I am undergoing treatment, and I’m getting better from the treatment. I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home,” he was quoted as saying on the BBC website.
“I wish, at this stage, to thank all Nigerians for their prayers for my good health, and for their prayers for the nation.”
Yar’Adua’s refusal to transfer powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has prompted a lawsuit from the Nigerian Bar Association, slowed government business, and threatens to renew violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Parliament returns from recess on Tuesday and is expected to address the issue of Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence.
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(164) Reactions
he lies
he lies, bit i pray God should bring him back for us safely, Amen.............
from victor mali. lagos
JUSTICE
JUSTICE should be the order of the game. Our president before his assumtion of office wase was believed to be a JUST man. Let the this eliar belief be a reality now. One thing is truthful. There seems to be trabalism play in these case, lets take for instance, if the vic president is our president and was in this condition, wouldn't the constitution taken it's stand?. So why is this refusal or delay in handing over of Power to our vice president so that the Nation will move forward. I love Mr. President and wish him good health and speedy recovery and also want him to leave a good legacy behind for the futur generation to build upon. Thank you and GOD bless you as you put your hope in GOD for a bether NIGERIA.
Let there be world peace
The present condition of nigerian president should not be used as the reason for the Government like the Governors and senators with other law makers to engage them self in corruption and sabortage the image of our beloved nation as unreasonable set of people living in a part of the black race country called nigeria.. What have they done in all the states to implement security, stop kidnaping,infrastructions are lacking, and there is No New stand Roads, Even the old roads are damaged ...If i will ask my fellow nigerians..To make our Home the best place to stay is not the Job of Yaradua, what are the Government in power doing to help the citizens both at Home and abroad.
What a ridiculouse act.
Common sence will tell every democratic Governance to transfere power to their subordinates when the need arises.Nigerian Presidents act of holding on to power after 7 wks of absence is really a disgrace to African Democracy and must be diregarded by all. Mr. Nitro Brown,Gh,W/A
vice is our president now
yar'adua is die ....we the niger delta give them end of this week to hend over the president set to goodliuck,if the nigerian bar associatin like or not Goodliuck is our new president
na so we go dey dey
do we really have a president? i see nigeria dividing in 2015,as for me the whole nation nigeria has no president if not we would have known if we have one
President Come Back
Why so long a silence; because the court has just ruled on the case?
Big Lie
The Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua did not, and had never spoke to any press and news station. It was all arranged by PDP political thugs who claimed this country to be their bedroom. I think the president is death and their hidding it for their usuall self loating of the country wealth. Nigerians and not fools, we can be sick as a nation (sorry about that... if you are not, what have you do?) This country is sinking and I see the country dividing into pieces.
Yar Adua debacle
If BBC news would say they spoke to him on the telephone, once again, BBC is indirectly contributing to the political upheaval that is covertly and overtly brewing in Nigeria today.
The best BBC can do now if it's interested in Nigerian democracy is to interview him live on TV and not by telephone.
This guy, Yar Adua is brain dead for several weeks now. If Yar Adua is a real president he would have spoken about his northerner who tried to send the whole world into chaos via by trying to set an Airplane on fire or bombing.
Ailing President of Nigeria
It is funny and totally insulting for the Federal Executive Council(FEC) of Nigeria to tell us that our President is FIT and CAPABLE of continuing to discharge presidential duties when the man himself some days ago told us on the BBC that “At the moment I am undergoing treatment, and I’m getting better from the treatment. I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home.” It shows the FEC's allegiance is to the man that appointed them and not the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We, Nigerians, may be docile, but we are not stupid and refuse to be taken for granted. The Law may be an ass but there is always the path of honour and good morals.