President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria has told the BBC in London that his health is improving after treatment in Saudi Arabia and that "as soon as my doctors discharge me, I will return to Nigeria to resume my duties."
The BBC said that Yar'Adua had spoken to the corporation in a telephone interview organized by the president's office.
The interview followed the publication of a newspaper report on Sunday which said he was brain damaged and could no longer perform the functions of his office. This report was followed Monday by rumours sweeping the web suggesting that he had died.
A transcript of Yar'Adua's words, as carried by the BBC on its website, follows:
"At the moment I am undergoing treatment and I'm getting better from the treatment I'm getting. I hope that, uh, very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home. I wish at this stage to thank all Nigerians for their prayers for my good health and for their prayers for the nation. [apparent break in recording]
"As soon as my doctors discharge me, I will return to Nigeria to resume my duties. I would also like to use this opportunity to wish our team, the Super Eagles, success in our Nations Cup... matches in Angola."
Hear Yar'Adua, as recorded by the BBC: Nigeria's leader breaks silence
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well, first all i will like to say; Alhamdulillah for hearing our able president spoke. And secondly we (All Nigerian's ) will continue to pray for him till he comes back. i wish him a quick recovery. AMEN.
How come our president prefers talking to outsiders on the phone and will not bother about us his own people, the mere fact that this so called interview was arranged by his personal aides indicates fowl play it is still their shameless show of desperation to keep things as there are as long as its in their personal interest. if indeed our president is alive and well to talk on the phone he should very well address the nation via satelite, it will at least calm frayed nerves or what mischieviouse game is he playing with a nation of well over 150million people, una get luck say na goodluck be vice if to say na atiku dis mata for don end. Its so amazing how low people can condecend just to hold on to power liars! liars! there was no interview even if there was it definitely wasnt with umar musa Yar Adua . The truth is pupping up very soon and all those who think they can decieve all of us will soon burry their heads in shame.
@@@@2love.som1 GREAT COMMENT:
Why on earth wills the president of the nation called BBC? Why not Nigeria newspapers? Why not video conferencing with Nigeria? I wonder why I cannot confirm this report on the BBC website. Did the BBC man/woman saw him on video cam? Why is he thanking Nigerians on BBC? Why cant he just call the EAGLES himself? Why does he think NIGERIANS are all fools
I think time is up for him and the people protecting him, they are all NIGERIA HATERS!!! Damn him .for bringing this beloved country down I am sorry guys for not shearing your prayers I am praying for Nigeria instead
its nice to know that our president is recovering but it took him ages and death wishes to get him to respond after so many weeks of prolonged silence. We need to move forward as a country and this is apparently drawing us back to the dark ages... i pray he recovers fully to make his impact felt because we are just not feeling him at all.
unkemdirim, please you guys shouldn't believe these sycophants, there was no interview with Nigeria's president, they are just working on the psyche of gullible few like you if yar is alive let him tell his country himself not thru a bbc reporter there are thousand and one ways he can address the nation from his hospital bed that is if he is alive. dont get it twisted nobody want our president dead but we dont want political agberos to take advantage of the situation so let him address us, untill he does so for the interest of the nation it is save to presume him incapable of being president or better still dead.
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