[size=16pt]Rumour of Yar’Adua’s death rocks Saudi - Saudi radio says ‘president is alive’ - VP, Mark, Bankole in crucial meeting in Aso Rock - As Speaker cancels Sallah holiday - Anxiety grips Nigerians [/size]

[b]….According to the text message, Nigerians were seen gathering in groups, discussing and praying for, the president. One of the special advisers to the wife of the president, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, according to the report, was said to have immediately left Muna in Saudi Arabia and headed straight for the hospital, where the president was admitted, at around 7.00 p.m (Nigerian time) on Wednesday.The rumour and speculations about the state of the health of the president were further heightened by the refusal of many of his aides to give information about what was really happening to him.

While his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, only disclosed that the president was away “for follow-up medical checks,” the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, refused to speak to newsmen about the development….

….Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that some top level consultations were ongoing among the nation’s top leaders, with Vice-President Jonathan, President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, and some high-ranking officials said to have held a meeting to review information available to them.[/b]

http://www.tribune.com.ng/26112009/news/news1.html

When is somebody going to think it's right to brief the nation about this development. Why keep the nation in the dark

Yar’Adua: No cause for alarm - Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji A. Aminchi, yesterday allayed fears of Nigerians over the health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Yar’Adua had travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday for medical check-up, but reports that he was admitted to hospital in the Port City of Jeddah had sparked another round of anxiety over his health.
For most part of the day yesterday, Nigerians showed their concern through phone calls, text messages and group discussions on the fate of the president.

Even when the mood in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory did not signify that anything untoward had happened to President Yar’Adua, the anxiety would not subside.
The speculations were not helped by Presidency officials who chose to keep mute about the condition of the nation’s number one citizen.
However, the ambassador dispelled the anxiety through a text message to a media organisation, assuring that the president was okay.

He added that Alhaji Yar’Adua was healthy enough to join other Muslims for the Wuquf Arafat (standing at Arafat), which marks the climax of the annual hajj rites. All the pilgrims would converge on Mount Arafat from about noon till dusk for deep contemplation and prayers to Allah.
A section of the media had reported on Wednesday that President Yar’Adua was undergoing medical examination in an unidentified hospital in the city of Jeddah.

Although, the report credited to a foreign news medium did not disclose that the president was suffering from any serious ailment, it, however, raised the anxiety of the citizens.
Leading opposition party, the Action Congress (AC), while reacting to the news report, called on Nigerians to pray for the speedy recovery of the president.

The party in a special statement also advocated that comprehensive medical examination should be conducted on future presidential candidates to ensure that only the fit and sound in health emerged the nation’s leader.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate had earlier dispelled the rumour going round on the state of the president’s health.
According to the Senate, there was no shred of evidence to justify any fear on President’s Yar’Adua state of health

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2009/nov/26/newsbreak-26-11-2009-001.htm

Yar’Adua ‘unconscious’

….Yar'adua suffers from a degenerative disease known as Churg Strauss syndrome. Saharareporters sources said Yar'Adua, who appears increasingly gaunt for a man who is not yet 60, was unconscious for about four hours last night, fueling widespread rumors that he had died in Saudi Arabia. Saharareporters received thousands of inquiries from readers, including government officials who claimed they had not heard from the "president".

Characteristically, Yar'Adua did not hand over to his vice, Jonathan Goodluck, a man he either fears, or holds in contempt, as he never hands the constitutional batton of power to him. In the corridors of power, the lackluster deputy is generally referred to as the "Social Prefect" because of his powerlessness and lack of influence in the presidency. Even the presentation of the 2010budget was done by Yar'Adua aides on Tuesday.

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4347:yaradua-unconsciousq-in-saudi-arabia-fears-mount-in-nigeria&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18