Life and death tales follow Nigeria’s President Yar’Adua to Saudi Arabia, again
USAfricaonline.com Special report by CHIDO NWANGWU. @Chido247
November 25, 2009: Nigeria’s President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, is back in the news as the subject of increased chatter across Nigeria’s international communities and inside the country’s capital city of Abuja on the twin-issues of the Fulani prince’s health condition and capacity to lead and serve as the leader of the country’s almost 220 million citizens.
The confluence of the Nigerian president’s health issues and the performance of national and international duties have also remained matters of debate and concern.
This time, he left late on Monday November 23, 2009, arriving next day on Tuesday November 24 and admitted for his renal, heart condition known as acute pericarditis, and asthmatic medical needs. President Yar’Adua’s media/communications assistant Olusegun Adeniyi’s formal statement as the president departed Nigeria indicated the President’s Saudi trip includes “follow-up medical checks.”
The Nigerian presidency, according to the Lagos and Abuja correspondents of USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com, is sensitive to the mounting speculations and polite inquiries following another of Yar’Adua’s urgent medical trips and admissions to the familiar Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah.
Across different private and public platforms for Nigerians, and through phone calls, e-mails and text messages to the USAfrica newsroom in Houston, USAfricaonline.com and across its four main e-groups especially Nigeria360@yahoogroup since November 23, 2009, we have witnessed debates linking President Yar’Adua’s latest, sudden medical check up trip to Saudi Arabia as symptomatic of his inability to maintain a strong, hands-on grip on the affairs of the country.
In the light of the realities of the President’s health, Nigerians continue to seek answers to the mounting questions being raised
First, how medically fit is Nigeria’s president?
Second, how does his health impact his capacity to, operationally, govern Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy?
Third, who handles the levers of government in the presidency when, as we have seen, the president is himself indisposed?
Fourth, what is the reality of authority and power inside the Nigerian presidency?
Fifth, what are the actual capacities and putative roles of the Vice President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in these dynamic configuration of things?
Sixth, what circles of immediate influence shape the outcomes at the Nigerian presidency under Yar’Adua — especially when he’s indisposed?
Privately, the key members of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) express concern about the President’s capacity to execute his own 7-point agenda/program amidst the demanding task of leading the PDP’s large, diverse, cantankerous and complicated structure and partisans.
In a brief chat with USAfricaonline.com, a major co-leader of the PDP from Kaduna State who played a critical role in fighting former president Obasanjo’s failed 3rd-term shenanigans said: “He will complete his term, Insa’Allah. (Insa’Allah is Arabic for God willing). And aside from the human factor we’re also concerned about the president’s health and how it affects the North’s opportunity and ongoing turn at providing the president. We pray for his recovery and healing.”
The Action Congress (AC) party -led by Obasanjo’s former VP Atiku Abubakar – has never been subtle in expressing concern over the health of President Yar’Adua and its impact on governance. AC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed argues that Yar’Adua’s incapacity to present the 2010 budget this week to the National Assembly requires and validates the call for a full disclosure on the President’s health: “We have said that the President is a human being who can fall ill at any time, and that his ill-health cannot be used against him. But since the President is the father of the nation, we – his children – must be fully kept abreast on his state of health. Failure to do that will fuel rumors, as we have now seen.”
But Senator Ayogu Eze of the PDP Enugu State argues “there is no indication for us whatsoever that the president is unable to discharge his responsibility. So far we do not have any evidence that the president cannot do his job so why should we pry into that.” Eze, chairman of the Senate’s Information committee adds “The health of the president is a constitutional issue and it is only a health board of enquiry that can determine the fitness or otherwise of the president, the composition of that board is very clear.”
On his part, the chairman of the U.S chapter of the PDP, Prof. Bernard-Thompson Ikegwuoha told USAfricaonline.com and Nigeria360 e-group that “It’s wrong and improper to add the president’s health to the issues for politicking in Nigeria. He deserves our compassion and should be commended for seeking and getting the best medical attention to be able to serve Nigerians better. Everything cannot be and should not be politicized.”
Another critical voice is that of the opposition party ANNP Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who told me/USAfricaonline.com and CLASSmagazine during our November 2009 exclusive interview that the issue is not the private health of the President: “we are focused simply on the issue of his public performance and service to Nigeria. Everyone knows that Yar’Adua and their PDP government have failed Nigeria. There’s no light or security…. They do not have passing marks; even the members of Nigeria’s national assembly, their own party members have indicated so. What are they talking about? They have failed”
Like Dr. Shekarau, Yar’Adua served as governor (of Katsina State, from May 1999 to May 2007). Yar’Adua was handpicked and reportedly “pushed” by his predecessor Obasanjo to become President of Nigeria through a controversial Nigerian presidential election in April 2007, assessed by international observers as rigged and neither free nor fair. He was sworn in as president on May 29, 2007. He was born on August 16, 1951, into a family of political heavyweights of Fulani descent in the north central state of Katsina (at the time the old Northern Nigeria).
Despite the health issues, Nigeria’s largely indisposed President is also being positioned by some who benefit from his continuing role as president to seek a 2nd 4-year term, come 2011.
The latest, preceding background to the issues and reports about the President’s health status occurred on Tuesday September 22, 2009 when he made as priority one of his personal-cum-official trips to Saudi Arabia over his scheduled attendance of the very important event of the 2009 United Nations’ General Assembly meeting in New York same week/period. His handlers publicly noted and announced that his mission to Saudi Arabia was for the cause of education, specifically to commission the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and by the way get some medical care for asthma.
The more urgent question for Nigerians is how soon President Yar’Adua will return to take charge of the ship of state amidst competing and clashing interests across the various arms of government.
Also, they raise questions over deteroriating security, kidnapping and the epileptic energy/power supplies across Nigeria.
Even as Nigerians await his return, rumors of his mortality continue to fly. Truth is Nigerians love rumors; tales of death and dying; true or false, they trade in them….
We wish President Umar Yar’Adua speedy recovery!
•Dr. Chido Nwangwu, recipient of the Journalism Excellence award (1997), is Founder and Publisher of USAfricaonline.com (first African-owned U.S.-based professional newspaper to be published on the internet), USAfrica The Newspaper, CLASS magazine and The Black Business Journal, USAfricaTV, AchebeBooks.com, and several blogs/e-groups. He served as an adviser to the Mayor of Houston on international business (Africa) and appears as an analyst on CNN, VOA, NPR, CBS News, NBC and ABC news affiliates. e-mail:Chido247@Gmail.com
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President Obama, hate-mongers and mob cons. By Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfricaonline.com, www.Achebebooks.com, CLASS magazine, The Black Business Journal, USAfrica.TV, and the largest digital images/pictorial events domain for Africans abroad www.PhotoWorks.TV
USAfricaonline.com goes richly interactive with new look, content….
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On 10/10/09, the major redesign and addition of richly interactive options will go fully live on the award-winning web site of the first African-owned, U.S-based professional newspaper published on the internet, www.USAfricaonline.com
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Remember, no one will live forever….
His mother has been denied access to him. That alone alert anyone that he is already dead, so they is no need saying he must not die because his also a human like everyone and must surely die someday, if his not dead.
OUR PRESIDENT MUST NOT DIE
MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW NIGERIANS .ONE OF THE IGBO PERSONS SHOULD TAKE OVER THIS PRESIDENCY OF A THING OR GIVE IT TO ME.
Let us thank God for our president, don't let us prophesized death for our president. Let pray for the hand of God to heal him
See lets face reality this man called the president of nigeria is not healthy to rule a country like nigeria and the fulani and hausa's to turn nigerians to fools is unfair,we all beleive the president is dead and the bbc broadcast is "RUBBISH"if he wants to address nigerians ,it should bo on NTA or radio Nigeria.There is WAR ,if care is not taking,the northerns shouldn't call the other tribes fool….
Why is this man NOT dead yet? Is it fair to send thousands of people (some much younger than you) to early graves by not providing good health care, good roads that reduce accidents, competitive education to save coming generations of mentally backward Nigerians, security for the people and their properties, etc; yet YOU don't wanna die? You run to a mere man who only used his brains than your insanity-infested brains to treat you, spending millions of dollars of Nigeria's money on foreign doctors, foreign food, foreign conveniences, plane, a team of aides and family who only spend more and contribute nothing!
As a christian, I cannot wish the sick to die while my master Jesus Christ was going about healing the sick.
But I must say that Mr President is a wicked man to the highest degree even worse than Abacha. My point is simple: if he is sick, the best thing for him is to step down because he is not the messiah of Nigeria, if he is he would have done something with the 2years plus he has spent instead he is wasting Nigerian resources abroad on treatment while he can't even maintain a single hospital here in Nigeria even his so called well developed Kastina state not to talk of Abuja.
Inasmuch as I want him to recover fast, I also want him to give his life to Christ our savior and resign.
I know that death is not a good thing but this not wise president is sick and must die one day i think he have to admit death and die than westing all our money for him who must die one day there is alot of people who are dieing in common maniria and tie-ford and no body cares about them now president is sick and u want me to cry because of him okay if u ask i will said that he should die and rest in pace or he leave the office and take care of him self all this money u guys are westing in this man can build us a better hospital.allow him rest in pace allow him to die if u don't want to have rest.
I hate all these hausa-fulani (leadership of Nigeria). Give honor to whom honor is due, give igbo man this president of a thing , if not they (hausa-fulani) will continue dying one by one, again if they cant give it to igbo ppl, Nigeria is good to set on fire, consume every living thing okay, or do you nigerians want babagida back to that sit? remember that he told Nigerians that he is only stepping aside so if the thron cant be giving to igbo ppl, Babagida must be back with his 419 level okay
l strongly agree with anonymus comment,
Nigeria as country is not existing at the moment a country without president, a country without Security, a country without Walter supply, a country without constant Electricity, a country without good Roads, Nigeria is far from being a country,talk about people dying of accident every year due to bad roads in Nigeria, Nigerians leaving abroad and foriengneare afriad to come home due to lack of security
What a shame, if a president is runing out of his own country for treatment, where will the ordinary people run to?
The president is telling the world that there is no good hospital in his country.
This monarchy system of president should give way to other part of Nigeria to rule. Nigerians has surffered enough from the hand of hausa and yoruba. if they can not allow the light which God has given to Nigeria to shine they will be dying one after the othe, a daed man can not come back to life. He has taken "A TRIP OF NOT COMING BACK" to S
thank U Allah
Thanks to Nigeria money that is being lavish in Saudi Arabia by Nigeria President. YAR ADUA.
Fellow Nigerians, I have taken time to read through different threads by different people in this issue, I therefore opine that in as much as we all should empathize and be passionate with the health status of our dear President (whether handpicked or elected), at least and so far (by my remote assessment) he is the most transparent president I have witnessed; it is also pertinent to note, as some people have pointed out, that the President is like a father of the nation. the whole nation would not be forced to anarchy consequential to the President's ill health, that is why we has a VP, if he was to be on vacation, he would hand over to his second, he has been away for over a month now, no substative person is leading the nation. Please let us remove the crux of the matter from mere sentiments.
God bless you all.
If we can only follow the provisions of the Federal Constitution of Nigeria that govern the transfer of authority or power when the president is not able to govern due to leave of absence or protracted illness, then Nigeria will avoid any power tussle. We should not carelessly or loosely demand the resignation of the president unless he has written a letter to the Senate to indicate his inability to continue as president. The constitution provides the guidelines for power transfer and we should follow it. The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is capable of discharging the duties of the office of the president if such authority is delegated to him. The Vice is supposed to be “a heartbeat away from the President.” Isn’t that the truth?
It not the best, let join hands together for the health of our president
It's pity 4 good citizens here in {nigeria} to think death to Mr. President instead of prayin for him to get back home, alive.
i wish our president quick recovery from his illness and God will help him to recover
May God grant our president a speedy recovery.
Nigeria is too large and great to be ruled by a sick president, when will God answer our prayers and remove this group of people from leading us wrongly. One thing is sure the eyes of the most high is on Nigeria, they can be there for some time but not forever. Saul was rejected by God and he refused to quit for David to take over until the day God said it is enough. This set of people has been rejected by God and the people but they refused to quit the day of judgement is here. Nigeria must rejoice in the midst of plenty.
sick president, sick nation. it's a pity for you Nigeria
Just like i said we don't use our mouth to proclaim death to our president b/c he still have so many project to acomplish by the grace of GoD Amen. Secondly every body is born to leave and there after death takes place lets pray for our president and also pray for our country Nigeria. Thanks Nigerians.
I believe is the only the aggrieved people on the earth that wish their opponent death. As for we Nigerians, we are meant to wish our president speedy recovery than to be passing rumour around and also we should know that death is for all.
Well the bible said life & death lies in the power of the tongue and the bible also said every man most be burn to life also in death will a man also leave. Let's pray for our contry Nigeria. Thanks fellow Nigeria.
my president can not die, is only a fool that which is country a bad lucky, i believe in nigeria and i believe in my president, this is his time and he will enjoy it.
is a pity a can not help in treating him but all i can do is to pray for my president.
uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.The uneasiness can contribute
to the state of ill-health.He deserves our prayers. chidi ehilegbu
Hello Fellow Nigerian, how una dey? why all of una be mumu like this? so una no no say una aboki don die? wetin una wan argue for? that sick aboki is dead if una no no, how can aboki be ruling una and una dey pray for speed recoverning to him? una think say God wey make him sick no no anything? so una no no the truth say na Aids suffer the aboki all these while? una think say na chest pain, kidney problem and the other one dey worry him? oyibo people fit cure all these common sickness but aids no get cure, all praise to God
Despite our human desire and nature of competiveness,we should also consider and put value to the life of the man who need our help for his survival.anybody can be in his shoe..if you have no ideas or knowledge of our to help the president,you can help in prayers to the creator for healing
Yes, President Ya'Ardua is human and his health issues should not be politicized. But public curiosity and interest would not be as high or strong were he not president. He is the father of a nation, and every family desires (and is actually entitled) to the truth about its member, especially the leader. Nigeria is a social, political and even economic family. I believe that Nigerians are entitled to the truth about their leader. The very act of leveling with Nigerians would diminish the curiosity and, thereby, the rumor. I wish the President well.
Ken