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I do not know for how long the President’s spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi will continue to fool Nigerians with respect to President Yar’ Adua’s health condition and his medical trips abroad. Everyone knows that Yar’ Adua is battling kidney problems; hence, he needs a regular medical check-up. But information regarding the President’s health has always been a source of controversy due to insincerity on the part of the President’s aides.

Recently, it was reported that President Yar’ Adua would spend eight weeks abroad having medical checks from January 26, 2009 but the statement credited to the President’s spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi is an indication that President Yar’ Adua’s trip abroad on health grounds is not a mere speculation. Mr. Adeniyi was quoted as saying “I’m not going to react to that story, whether it is true or false, papers can go ahead speculating on the health of Mr. President. I won’t t...Read the full article.

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Yar Adua is almost thru with his term, for sure!


Atiku-Obasanjo meeting in Otta is not ordinary eye. The North is shopping for a replacement and Atiku is more or less begging Obasanjo to remove hand from him matter so that he can rule for one day, at least.

The idea is to eventually rubbish Jonathan as a meaningless figure head and to point clearly to the South that the zoning is still in the north, at least for now.


As per Adeniyi or what does he call himself...put him on permanent Iggy. Care less about a rubber-stamped mouth piece. He is insignificant in this matter.

Things are happening and the drama will unfold soon. Thriller-Nigeria...

Gongo-aso

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Recently, it was reported that President Yar’ Adua would spend eight weeks abroad having medical checks from January 26, 2009 but the statement credited to the President’s spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi is an indication that President Yar’ Adua’s trip abroad on health grounds is not a mere speculation. Mr. Adeniyi was quoted as saying “I’m not going to react to that story, whether it is true or false, papers can go ahead speculating on the health of Mr. President. I won’t talk about it.” With this statement, Mr. Adeniyi is probably trying to be careful in handling the matter due to the sack of the former Secretary to the Federal Governmenet (SFG), Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe as a result of the manner in which speculations about the President’s where about was handled in August last year. ."

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We all know that Yar’ Adua is a sickly President forced upon Nigerians for no good reason by OBJ. Hopefully he is sick enough to completely get out of Aso Rock.

By the way according to the news article below from Nigerianworld it says two weeks and possibly longer not outright eight weeks as you have written. Though it doesn’t make any difference to me but if you are going to write about something you should try to at least get your facts straight. The one rule of thumb as a journalist is to do your investigation before writing anything to avoid unnecessary embarrassment and possible law suit.

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Yar'Adua begins two-week leave on Monday

• VP Loses Aides In Auto Crash

By Muyiwa Adeyemi, Lagos and Madu Onuorah, Abuja

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will from Monday proceed on a two-week leave.


A two-paragraph statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed informed that while President Yar'Adua is on leave, all matters requiring his attention would be attended to by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Statement reads: "His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will be proceeding on a two-week leave with effect from Monday January 26th, 2009. While Mr. President is away on leave, all matters requiring his attention will be attended to by His Excellency, the Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan."

Though the statement did not say why the president is going on a vacation, sources at the presidency had initially hinted that he would be travelling for a medical check-up on Monday. A source hinted that the President had in the first week of the year informed the Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole, Service Chiefs and the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of his travelling.

Last August, he travelled officially to Saudi Arabia for more than two weeks for a Moslem pilgrimage.

When his stay in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj was getting longer than expected, fuelling speculations about his state of health and that he had gone to Germany for treatment, government spokesperson, Mr Segun Adeniyi belatedly informed the country that he was receiving treatment in Jeddah during the trip.

A source last night said the trip might be longer than two weeks as the president is expected to undergo a surgical operation to correct his alleged chronic kidney problem.
A source said since the beginning of the year, his office had been busy with the ministers working hard to get their memos approved before the trip.
However, the official statement of yesterday put paid to the speculations in the presidency as to whether or not he would officially hand over to the Vice President.

President Yar'adua did not hand over to Vice President Goodluck last year when he travelled out of the country for two weeks. As at press time, it was not certain whether the president is traveling to Germany or the United States for the operation.

In another development, the Office of the Vice President yesterday announced the death of three of its staff in a "fatal motor accident" at Charanchi town, near Katsina, Katsina State.

The three officials were part of the advance team for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who is expected in Katsina today for the wedding of one of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's daughters, Nafisatu to the Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Isa Yuguda.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President (Media & Publicity), Mr Ima Niboro identified the three as Mr Brian Ata (Assistant Chief Information officer), Mr. Emmanuel Babarinde (Television cameraman) and Mr. Thomas Adeyemi (a Security officer attached to the Vice President's Office).

Niboro said: "The incident occurred when the bus they were traveling in veered off its lane and somersaulted. The other six officers in the bus sustained various degrees of injuries and are now receiving treatment at the Katsina General Hospital in Katsina. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Katsina General Hospital mortuary."

The Vice President, Niboro said, has expressed "shock and sadness over the incident."

He added that the Vice President has "condoled with the families of the deceased and prayed God to comfort them, and grant repose to the souls of the departed."

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I do not know for how long the President’s spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi will continue to fool Nigerians with respect to President Yar’ Adua’s health condition and his medical trips abroad.

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The problem with this author and his effing journalist friends is that they are incapable of understanding the difference between The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the ordinary Musa in the street. The health of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (irrespective of who it is) is asymptotic to the security and stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (YOU GET IT!)

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Information regarding his (Yar’ Adua) health status is like any new story for the newspaper

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CORRECTION!

Information regarding The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria health status is NOT like any news story for the newspapers!

Personally, I think the health of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be a state secret--as in some countries. It would be reckless and irresponsible of the President or his spokespersons to disclose to the public anymore than a “The President is healthy” response.

Continuous speculation about the President's health could drive away investors, further destabilize the economy and even the country. When are your lot going to stop and think about this “NOTHING SACRED” nonsense; the wider issues at stake and the implications for NIGERIA? Would you, as an ordinary citizen, want to publish your medical records to all to read in the papers? Of course not! Why then the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is the leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

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Palamedes,

That the President's condition of health should be a State Secret is no show on your part.
What State Secret do we have in the first place?NOTHING!
The World knew everything about us and if there is anything they are yet to know,it is a matter of giving Nigerian top corrupt officials some peanuts and all informations needed would be supplied to them.
Remember that our Aso Rock Palace was constructed for us by foreign contractors.Who knows what were planted inside there as bugs etc.What secret do we have in Nigeria and what secret are you asking us to keep?
Nigerians already knew that Yaradua is sick.The world already knew that he is sick.So what secret about his health are we still obligated to keep?
That disclosing his condition of health would drive investors away is also no show.
Our situations in Nigeria have kept many investors away, except the dare devil ones who are economic mafias and who are so skilled in the art of doing business with Nigeria.
Are you aware of the fact that a country with no electricity,no roads,no good airports,no water,no trains,no good communications etc have already told investors to stay away? Except those old timers that are stuck in there;which new investors is willing to come and invest in Niger Delta Area considering the menacing militants who are killing,maiming,kidnapping etc people at will?
In civilized countries, the type of Yaradua would not continue in office.Castro of Cuba relinquished power when his health was failing.Can Yaradua our selected{not elected} President do the same?
Yaradua's health problem did not start after he was smuggled into Aso Rock.His poor health was with him probably before he became the Governor.
An advocate of "rule of law" must know how not to accept the offer of the Presidency when he is fully aware of his health's limitation.Or did our constitution say that an unhealthy man can become our number one man?I doubt it. If Yaradua is truely a man who is dedicated to the rule of law,he should not be playing games with his health's condition.
I agreed with this author that Yaradua's health condition is not sacred and it is also no secret.
The sad thing is that his spokesman is so shameless in telling us blatant lies and you too,Palamedes, an onlooker is here cheerleading the liar.

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Well, let's pray for him. He was imposed on us and as a Nigerian (greedy and selfish set of people), he did not refused the offer even when he knew his health can't carry him through. He preferred to die on that hot seat. I wish him luck (whether good or otherwise).

My submission.

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@Agidimolaja#5

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“The World knew everything about us”
“Aso Rock Palace was constructed for us by foreign contractors”
“Our situations in Nigeria have kept many investors away”
“a country with no electricity,no roads,no good airports,no water...” communications
“the menacing militants who are killing,maiming,kidnapping...”
“Castro of Cuba relinquished power when his health was failing”
“he was smuggled into Aso Rock”
“An advocate of "rule of law" must know how not to accept...the Presidency when he is fully aware of his health's limitation”
“did our constitution say that an unhealthy man can become our number one man?”
“a man who is dedicated to the rule of law,he should not be playing games with his health's condition.”
“Palamedes, an onlooker is here cheerleading the liar.”

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Sir, just read yourself again and again and ask yourself whether you wrote these or not, becasue this is a product of a rather disorganized mind at work; a cacophony, an incoherent thought process, bordering on hysteria; an inability to keep focus on the issues being discussed; a journey to whatever caught the fancy? Simply put, it is gibberish!

Above all, your negativity is so extreme and very sad. (Borrowing your exhibition) Simply ask you to tidy up your room: your response would be to point to the untidy streets, towns in Nigeria; your governor's untidy office; the state of the President's own office; that the World knew we are not tidy; about foreign contractors; on what the constitution and rule of law says about tidiness; kidnapping , electricity, roads, airports, water; how Castro of Cuba had ordered his untidy office to be cleaned. Gosh! Your mind is all over the place, what a flight. Sir, my question to you is, do you have any solution for Nigeria or just your sad negativity?

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=Palamedes;318311>The problem with this author and his effing journalist friends is that they are incapable of understanding the difference between The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the ordinary Musa in the street. The health of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (irrespective of who it is) is asymptotic to the security and stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (YOU GET IT!)

CORRECTION!

Information regarding The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria health status is NOT like any news story for the newspapers!

Personally, I think the health of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be a state secret--as in some countries. It would be reckless and irresponsible of the President or his spokespersons to disclose to the public anymore than a “The President is healthy” response.

Continuous speculation about the President's health could drive away investors, further destabilize the economy and even the country. When are your lot going to stop and think about this “NOTHING SACRED” nonsense; the wider issues at stake and the implications for NIGERIA? Would you, as an ordinary citizen, want to publish your medical records to all to read in the papers? Of course not! Why then the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is the leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

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Palamedes we are in a democracy(supposedly) & those states you mentioned as the health of the president being a state secret are under the jackboots of tyrants.

We at least have a free press to a certain extent & no where I believe in our constitution is it a crime to publish issues on the health of the president or any other government official.

The speculations over his health will continue whether we like it or not as long as he or his aides fail to come clean about the state of his health.

The lesser Hajj affair was shameful & disgraceful.

What happened recently in neighboring Guinea when the president died as compared to last years death of Zambia's president.

Is it until the man drops dead in office and leaves behind a crises that can consume us all before you understand the writers point of view.

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@nijalaw#8

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We at least have a free press to a certain extent & no where I believe in our constitution is it a crime to publish issues on the health of the president or any other government official.

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Oh ye? But surely, no constitution can cover all possible permutation of “do-s and-don't-s” in any country. So lets stop the navel-gazing, look up, and think about the implications of publishing the medical records of the PRESIDENT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Some of us, it seems, are confusing the office of the PRESIDENT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Yar' Adua--the Nigerian citizen who also happens to hold the office. When he is no more the President, treat him as you would a private citizen but whilst he (or any Nigerian for that matter) is the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, we should exercise decorum and think of Nigeria. I hope you understand this simple concept.

BTW, There are many democracies in the world where very little is written about the health of the head of state—whether by news editorial self-censorship or for the good of the country.

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Is it until the man drops dead in office and leaves behind a crises...

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What crisis? Is there no VP and if not the VP, then the chair of the Senate? The crisis you fear is the one you are trying to create by the nonsense, innuendos and tittle-tattle.

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Palamedes@9

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What crisis? Is there no VP and if not the VP, then the chair of the Senate? The crisis you fear is the one you are trying to create by the nonsense, innuendos and tittle-tattle.

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Your assertion is in an ideal democracy but not in Nigeria where anything goes. When UMYA was in SA for the lesser hajj fiasco, the VP was left twiddling his thumbs & governance came to a standstill. Were you not aware of the intrigues & power play that went on, culminating in the sack of the SFG. Even when the VP rushed to SA did you hear that the Senate President was in charge. How many State Governors while jetting abroad in the last 10 years left their states in the hands of the DG's?

UMYA has gone on leave & according to the constitution he's supposed to inform & get approval the NA, but no he did not deem it fit. There are 2 different statements over the vacation & the status of the VP by the SFG & the presidential media spokesman. One says it's a handover the other say's it's not but the VP constitutionally taking charge which has provided some form of debate.

There is clear ineptitude by the presidency in it's handling of not only UMYA's health issues that has given rise to speculation & all sorts of rumors but other affairs of state. If matters had been handled in the right & proper manner the state of his health would be a non issue.

BREAKING NEWS: Yobe State Governor, Senator Mamman Bello Ali Died of Leukemia!

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BTW, There are many democracies in the world where very little is written about the health of the head of state—whether by news editorial self-censorship or for the good of the country.

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Not in Europe or North America. Even in India recently their President had an operation that was widely reported.

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Oh ye? But surely, no constitution can cover all possible permutation of “do-s and-don't-s” in any country. So lets stop the navel-gazing, look up, and think about the implications of publishing the medical records of the PRESIDENT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Some of us, it seems, are confusing the office of the PRESIDENT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Yar' Adua--the Nigerian citizen who also happens to hold the office. When he is no more the President, treat him as you would a private citizen but whilst he (or any Nigerian for that matter) is the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, we should exercise decorum and think of Nigeria. I hope you understand this simple concept.

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If the Presidents health status is to be kept secret how is it that there's a constitutional provision for the NA to remove him if he is not able to steer the country on health grounds. His health is clearly affecting governance & that's why the nation is in doldrums.