President Umaru Yar'adua is now out of the King Faisal Hospital's Intensive Care Unit in Jedda and the severe restriction placed on access to him has been somewhat relaxed, Nigerian officials in Jeddah told Daily Trust yesterday. They said it was a sign that the president's health had improved considerably since he arrived at the hospital 10 days ago.
As at yesterday, though, access to the president was still limited to his wife Hajiya Turai and Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdullahi Garba Aminci, an official close to the Nigerian mission in Jeddah said. The official would not want to be named because he was not officially mandated to speak.
He said while Yar'adua was at the ICU, the First Lady was allowed to visit him for about ten minutes at a time, but yesterday, she was allowed to be with him for up to two hours.
Governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Bukola Saraki of Kwara and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, who flew to Saudi Arabia a few days ago, were still to see the president as at yesterday evening because of the restrictions.
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Also in Jeddah but yet to see the president were Agriculture Minister Abba Sayyadi Ruma, Presidential Economic Adviser Tanimu Kurfi and Senator Kanti Bello, who is leading Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Yar'adua is at the King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah to treat acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. He left Nigeria penultimate Monday.
Last week, there were rumours that the president had died, but Aminci told Daily Trust on Wednesday that Yar'adua was recovering. Aminci could not be reached for further information on the president's state of health yesterday.
He had last week said the president was having some rest after receiving medical attention at the Jeddah hospital, but he did not say how long the president would stay in Saudi Arabia.
The president's chief physician Salisu Banye also last week said Yar'adua was recovering, though he also did not give details as to when the president would return to Nigeria.
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ickness, inevitable, does occur everyday and does not equal incapacity or incapability. I pray that God should restore his health and make Nigerians put aside ethnocentric interest and show solidarity, and not the present nation-wide thesis of discord, unpatriotic tendency, disrespect and contempt for life. The president will die when he will die. Our concern should be continuous prayer for him not to die; believe me, his death will bring lots of crisis. The president has promised to deliver and pledged that:My abiding philosophy is that government should stay focused on service delivery and refrain from propaganda knowing that what comes at the end of the day is what the people see and not what they are told. With this statement, my confidence in him for delivery and to deliver Nigeria is reinforced, and from what I have heard of him, he will perform his duties, even at the face of death. What any responsible citizens would do at this time of his life and in this situation is to pray and organize national prayers.
I am not paid to write this praise, neither am I a stakeholder in the present government, so please dont get my sincere solidarity twisted, especially those that perceive Nigeria and the government as good-for-nothing. President Umaru YarAdua took over leadership of the country as destined, at the umpteenth time when Nigeria needed salvation from socio-economic and political collapse, in addition to near autocracy (of OBJs 3rd and 4th term bid). He joined hands with other compatriots that are now propelling and rebranding our countrys gallant image at all levels of government across the country, and on this plank of victory and people-centred leadership, the dividends of democracy are no longer a mirage- even though we cant feel it. However, since that day you sincerely and faithfully took office, Nigerias new problem is the bunch of many clusters of educated fools, who think with their eyes and reason with their emotions, in addition to disjointed cliques of hard-hearted, power-drunk, immoral, wicked, devilish and dangerous men in the corridors of power, escorting you and your office. It is sad to note that instead of joining hands with you to blind a more cohesive and greater Nigeria of our dream, these saddists escort are pulling you down, and tagging you all sorts of names. Some repulsive Diasporas, out of cowardice, false image and indirect slavery in Europe and America are the culprits of this unpatriotic bandwagon movement leading the campaign. Their various acts of frustration goes to proof that in any society, there are those who watch things happen, those who wonder how things happen, those who are aloof to whatever happens, those who criticize negatively whatever happens no matter how good, and those who make things happen(always few). These categories of people pull you down because they dont contribute constructively to what happens or care to what happen to Nigeria. They thereby constitute themselves into renegades, deviants, and charlatans of the status quo. My president, please do not be distracted by these elements of retrogression. Your vision and determination is the hope of Africa, your health not withstanding.
Why my solidarity for President Umaru YarAdua? He is the best thing that happens to Nigeria, and we can not forget in a hurry where we are coming from. We still remember the pains of yesterday whereby Nigeria was described as a pariah nation, and witnessed a nation on the brink of disintegration. I still remember a nation cancerously eaten by corruption, and political belligerence and a near autocratic nation. We saw yesterday, a nation whose political future was in a state of comatose. Let me not dwell long on the woes and travails of yesterday. This is not about PDP, or a rigged election, or sick president. This is democracy, and according to Franklin Roosevelt, In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way. President Umaru, out of the lots, was found fit and capable to leads Nigeria to the promise land, so why cant we just let him do his work? President Umaru YarAdua, in my opinion, his the best thing that have ever happen Nigeria since 1960, and I strongly believe in his reputation as one of the very few prudent people in public office in Nigeria, managing resources at their disposal with the fear of God. This is what Nigeria needs above all things. When Ribadu could found him faultless, never indicted or investigated for corruption, then I knew this is the man that will save Nigeria. As one commentator put it, because hes quiet, people mistake him for a weakling. But hes someone who knows his own mind. President Umaru YarAdua, because youre the savour we need, you will not die and I continually pray that your efforts and political pedigree that dates back to the 1960s will guide you, and on these premises, I joined hands with all well-wishers of Nigeria and indelibly put on the marbles of history, your trail blazing and pace- setting achievements, and wish you speedy recovery. We are solidly behind you for a better New Nigeria. I believe we have not had the best of you yet. Go slow as slow as you can possibly go, but I know you shall win the race and make Nigeria an envy of her persecutors.
God bless you, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
with due respect,Mr.President should tell Nigerians the state of his health.WE NEED TO KNOW.
I wish the President quick recovery. I do not see any reason why he should resign. He is doing a good job and dealing with the fundamental issues that Nigeria has to deal with to becoming a great nation. I do not think we should be involved in health discrimination. As long as he has robust strategic structures and controls in place, which he has, he should continue with the job he has started. He is shaping Nigeria in a positive direction that "some" do not feel comfortable with. He has the best interest of the nation at heart.
Tell all Nigerian opposition group and others who are asking for the resignation of president Yaradua, to revisit the constitution of the land properly.They should allow the president to accomplish his seven point development agenda. No one is above the work of nature. FROM MAISAMARI PEROS, PLATEAU, NIGERIA.
Tell all Nigerian opposition group and others who are asking for the resignation of president Yaradua, to revisit the constitution of the land properly.They should allow the president to accomplish his seven point development agenda. No one is above the work of nature. FROM MAISAMARI PEROS, PLATEAU, NIGERIA.
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