President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao and Umara Yar'Adua of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The two nations have increased their economic cooperation.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
December 02 2009
Nigerian newspapers today published a call from a group of public figures for President Umaru Yar'Adua to quit or prove he is fit enough to govern, deepening debate over the leadership of the oil producing nation.
The 58 year-old leader was flown to a clinic in Saudi Arabia nine days ago after complaining of chest pains and has been diagnosed with acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane around the heart that can restrict normal beating.
The president's spokesperson has said Yar'Adua was responding well to treatment, while Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has said he has spoken with the president and that he was healthy. The ruling People's Democratic Party has said he will return home soon and resume work.
At least nine Nigerian newspaper front pages carried a statement, reported to have been signed by more than 50 public figures, calling on Yar'Adua to resign immediately or allow a medical panel to confirm his fitness to govern. The Daily Trust newspaper, citing Nigerian officials in Saudi Arabia, said Yar'Adua was now out of intensive care but that only his wife and Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia had been allowed to visit him.
More calls for Yar'Adua to quit
Yar'Adua's stay in a clinic in the Red Sea port of Jeddah is the latest in a series of overseas medical trips which have raised concern about his fitness. He has in the past visited Saudi and Germany to treat a chronic kidney problem.
"It is clear to every discerning observer that President Umaru Yar'Adua's physical condition has had a negative impact on his ability to discharge the functions of the highest office in our nation," the statement said, according to the newspapers.
The list of names reported to have signed includes former presidential candidates, former state governors, lawyers, a former Senate president and a former chief of defence staff. It was not immediately possible to check with all of those listed whether they had signed the document as reported but one of those named told Reuters he had not been consulted.
The Vanguard newspaper quoted seven of those listed as saying they had signed or supported the statement's sentiment. – Reuters
1 comment:
i think the president should resign and go take good care of himself cos it is better to be in good health than have wealth and health problem cos if(God forbid) he dies today someone else will take over.
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