After months of silence and speculations of his death, Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua spoke to the BBC in a telephone interview. Yar’Adua stated that he is still receiving medical treatment, presumable at the King Faisal Hospital in Saudi Arabia where he was reported to have been admitted since he was last seen in November, and will be returning to office as soon as he is discharged.
Brain-Damaged?
The revelation of the interview counters claims by some newspaper outlets (NEXT, Telegraph (UK) that the President was brain-damaged and unable to recognise anyone.
His indication that he does intend to return to office after his treatment also raises questions around rumours of a conspiracy to hide the truth about the President’s brain damage in order to buy time to choose a Hausa successor that shares the same values and principles as Yar’Adua.
Patriotic
It is unfortunate that the President has chosen to speak to Nigerians through a Western media (BBC) what ever happened to being a patriot of your own? None-the-less at least the country has finally heard from its President.
It is not a coincidence that this interview came after news of his death was announced by American Chronicle yesterday, of which IQ4News requested the website to verify its claims or remove the article. The article was subsequently taken down.
As Nigerians at home and abroad prepare for the ‘Enough is Enough’ rally starting today in Abuja, it is unclear at this point what is truth and what is not.
STOP PRESS!
Friday 15 January 2010 – London
12 pm – 15:15 arrival and protest at Parliament Square SW1P3
15:15 – 17:30 protest moves to Nigerian High Commission (WC2N 5BX)
If possible bring your flags, placards and come dressed in the Nigerian colours of green and white. Organisers will also provide banners and placards on the day.
For further information please contact:
Phone: 0784212553
Email: info@nigerialibertyforum.org.uk
Web: www.nigerianlibertyforum.org.uk
