President Umaru Yar'Adua is brain damaged and can no longer perform the functions of his office, the Nigerian newspaper, NEXT, reported on Sunday.
The newspaper said that Yar'Adua, who has been undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for the past seven weeks, was unable to recognize anyone, including his wife, Turai.
It also accused her of concealing his condition from the public and of barring all but a civilian aide, a legislator and two security aides from access to him. It suggested she was the "organizing principal" of a "two-tier power loop" around the president.
Also on Sunday, Vanguard newspaper of Lagos reported that a small "inner sanctum," made up of many of the same individuals named by NEXT, was managing the situation – but did not go so far as to suggest that Yar'Adua was permanently disabled.
Vanguard said that "though Yar'Adua may be recovering well, he is not strong enough to confront the rigours of presidential responsibilities for now."
NEXT said that sources "in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region and in Europe and the United States" have told it that the group has blocked all direct access to Yar'Adua.
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"Even the president's closest and most powerful aides have accepted that Mr. Yar'Adua may never return as president," NEXT reported. It quoted one source as saying "It is over for this president… The question is when and how."
Vanguard:
Exposed - How President Yar'Adua Rules From Saudi Arabia
Victims of Yar'Adua's Absence
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I think we need to be very careful, which I am sure we are. There is no concrete source to this claim about Mr. President so I would not take that claim seriosly. There are so much negative propaganda against the President and Nigeria in general and in my opinion it is based on the fact that some nations have been exploitng Nigeria since Independence and Nigeria now seems to be tackling the fundamental cracks that are responsible for the mess. This includes Nigeria's procurement ( contract awarding )model The best a nation can do is pray for the recovery of the President for him to continue with the good job he has started. The reality is if Yar'adua is left in government for two terms he would take Nigeria to a great level and place the Country in high international ranking.
Most nations on earth would protect its president in such a situation and show some solidarity, maturity and support for its President in this difficult times. Jonathan Goodluck is not begging or aspiring to be the President. I am sure he is happy in his role and I must comment him and the Ministers for doing a good Job while their boss is off-sick. The nation at large should be supporting them instead of causing more troubles and throwing litigations and negative media propaganda everywhere. It makes you wonder if we have anything called compasion in our hearts ? This is a President who has worked hard to develop a decent strategic Roadmap for the future of the Country and suddenly took ill on duty ! I think we should check our consciences.
President Yar Adua is the first first-lady made correspondent President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the wife is desperately in a mixed up of a test-so-sweet but miss-it-soon proxy Aso lady Bossship, how sad.