ABUJA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria's presidency declined to comment on a newspaper report on Friday that President Umaru Yar'Adua would spend eight weeks abroad having medical checks from Jan. 26.

The Business Day newspaper quoted a special assistant in the presidency as saying that aides and ministers were trying to get approval for government business ahead of Yar'Adua's departure in 10 days' time.

"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," presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said.

Yar'Adua, known to have a chronic kidney problem, travelled to Saudi Arabia for more than two weeks last August.

Official statements said he was on a Muslim pilgrimage but senior Nigerian officials and a medical source in Saudi Arabia said he had received treatment in Jeddah during the trip, raising fears about his fitness.

Under the Nigerian presidential system, ministers must obtain approval for certain expenditures and projects, and a prolonged absence could stall government business as the Vice-President does not automatically have executive powers.

Yar'Adua's health was long a source of concern even before he assumed the presidency.

He had to be rushed to hospital in Germany while he was campaigning just weeks ahead of the April 2007 presidential election.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo called him by phone from the stage at a ruling party campaign rally so he could confirm he was still alive after rumours spread to the contrary. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Felix Onuah; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Philippa Fletcher)


http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKLG72708920090116

and the drama continues

We love power even more than ourselves. Yar 'Adua would rather die on the throne. King Yar 'Adua.


***Naija back on autopilot***

Why europe?
He could have checked into one of the death houses in the all is well nigeria to receive the treatment.

B.T.W, he could have died long time ago in LUTH if he were to be an ordinary nigerian.

nuzo:

Why europe?
He could have checked into one of the death houses in the all is well nigeria to receive the treatment.

B.T.W, he could have died long time ago in LUTH if he were to be an ordinary nigerian.

You can say that again, Why Europe? Why not LUTH.

Abeg enough of the phoney outrage that will lead to nothing. Yar Adua is going out of the country yet again and we want to all of a sudden get sentimental as if his staying or going will in anyway change the country's current direction? What are we going to miss for 8-weeks? Him doing nothing?

Here's hoping when he comes back, he will be ready to face the nation's problems headon. We really need some push forward in that nation oo!!

here's to hoping he doesnt come back to a new govt. _{tips a glass of water}

Yeh the guy is going for sick leave. I read yesterday in the news that he has set up intergovernmental committee that will steer the nation economy and make policy. The committee made of Govs of Edo, Lagos, Kwara, Bauchi and CBN. These are the ppl that will look after the nation when he is on sick leave. Notice that his Yuguda is inclusive, his new inlaw.

Kobojunkie:

Here's hoping when he comes back, he will be ready to face the nation's problems headon. We really need some push forward in that nation oo!!

Tsiya:

Yeh the guy is going for sick leave. I read yesterday in the news that he has set up intergovernmental committee that will steer the nation economy and make policy. The committee made of Govs of Edo, Lagos, Kwara, Bauchi and CBN. These are the ppl that will look after the nation when he is on sick leave. Notice that his Yuguda is inclusive, his new inlaw.

How many more trips does he need before he is ready, considering he is approaching half of his tenure? Sometimes i think what that man needs is just a good flogging from his mum just to wake him up. It is difficult to believe he has not been asleep for the past 1 year and 8months.

Intergovernmental committee? It is now this is starting? Talk about giving the phrase "learning on the job" a bad wrap; does not help if the person appears to be a slow learner either.

Tsiya:

Yeh the guy is going for sick leave. I read yesterday in the news that he has set up intergovernmental committee that will steer the nation economy and make policy. The committee made of Govs of Edo, Lagos, Kwara, Bauchi and CBN. These are the ppl that will look after the nation when he is on sick leave. Notice that his Yuguda is inclusive, his new inlaw.

Ha ha ha ha!
I thought he has a vice ( that former mumu teacher from Ijaw)?
Yar Adua may take as medical trip as he like to Europe or Timbuktu but what about ailing Nigerian nation?
Nigerian nation need more medical attention than sicky Yar Adua.

president yara dua or what is your name you have to be ashame of yourself by going to all the country of the world for medical i dont know what you use your brain to think you cannot build a very good hospital and eqqup it with you run arround for treatment how many times have you heard the president of bretain or oany other country travelling for medical in germany or elsewhere you cannot build a good hospital in nigeria but you can approve the sum of 4.2 billion naira for food in aso rock i dont know what you peopel are thinking may be i should plead to german president with come and bild hospital in nigeria NIGERIA in germany pls help me do this so that our president willnot be running arround OGA PRESIDENT pls build a good hospital in nogeria dont spoil nigeria image you must be ashame OBASANJO boy lol lol all of them no dey regret there action lol lol biuld for yourself i dont say you should build for nigeria i know u people dont think of nigeria but yourself and your family lol lol
ohh OGA PRESIDO

multebrain:

president yara dua or what is your name you have to be ashame of yourself by going to all the country of the world for medical i dont know what you use your brain to think you cannot build a very good hospital and eqqup it with you run arround for treatment how many times have you heard the president of bretain or oany other country travelling for medical in germany or elsewhere you cannot build a good hospital in nigeria but you can approve the sum of 4.2 billion naira for food in aso rock i dont know what you peopel are thinking may be i should plead to german president with come and bild hospital in nigeria NIGERIA in germany pls help me do this so that our president willnot be running arround OGA PRESIDENT pls build a good hospital in nogeria dont spoil nigeria image you must be ashame OBASANJO boy lol lol all of them no dey regret there action lol lol biuld for yourself i dont say you should build for nigeria i know u people dont think of nigeria but yourself and your family lol lol
ohh OGA PRESIDO

Represinting the Nigerians wey no fit use internet.

The way I see it, we as a people are not ready to force change on him, so we might as well hope that he be given some drug or eats something out there to spur him to start working on, say, leaving a good legacy for himself or something. That might move him to start working on some of the countries issues, else, all I can say is we just have to wait till the next election 2 years from now to see change.  

Eziachi:

Ha ha ha ha!
I thought he has a vice ( that former mumu teacher from Ijaw)?
Yar Adua may take as medical trip as he like to Europe or Timbuktu but what about ailing Nigerian nation?
Nigerian nation need more medical attention than sicky Yar Adua.

The Vice is some how mumu. He just de behave like some kind Yeye Nigerian lecturers that have PhD but dont understand anything. Anyway, I think everything boils down to trust and also politics.

The funny thing is that the President does not trust any of his PDP people. He put Ashiomole (AC) who is just new, Fashola (AC), Yuguda (ANPP) and the Saraki (PDP).

Sky Blue:

How many more trips does he need before he is ready, considering he is approaching half of his tenure? Sometimes i think what that man needs is just a good flogging from his mum just to wake him up. It is difficult to believe he has not been asleep for the past 1 year and 8months.

Intergovernmental committee? It is now this is starting? Talk about giving the phrase "learning on the job" a bad wrap; does not help if the person appears to be a slow learner either.

It is not about slow learning. This guy have no even the strength to learn. U can only learn if you healthy and thinking very well. Right decisions cannot be made when u are sick. And it is evident from what is going on decisions are not made by him, nor by one person.

Abeg enough of the phoney outrage that will lead to nothing. Yar Adua is going out of the country yet again and we want to all of a sudden get sentimental as if his staying or going will in anyway change the country's current direction? What are we going to miss for 8-weeks? Him doing nothing?

@ Skyblue, is he going to spend his own money? Its the tax payers money he is blowing away like that. Didn't he just got back from SA some time ago?
As mush as as I wouldn't want anyone to be sick (requiring treatment for such a long time), this guys cannot just be traveling and gallivanting across nations like that.

Here's hoping when he comes back, he will be ready to face the nation's problems headon. We really need some push forward in that nation oo!!

The way I see it, we as a people are not ready to force change on him, so we might as well hope that he be given some drug or eats something out there to spur him to start working on, say, leaving a good legacy for himself or something. That might move him to start working on some of the countries issues, else, all I can say is we just have to wait till the next election 2 years from now to see change.

@kobojunkie
I like your optimism but sorry dear,nigeria is already gone to the gallows.

asha 80:


@kobojunkie
I like your optimism but sorry dear,nigeria is already gone to the gallows.

I just have to hope that at some point the majority will wait up to our true reality or God will seize one of people in office and FORCE em to do right by the people. I am willing to take anything from the federal government at this point.

Really sad indeed.

I can understand why he won't resign-Nigeria's democracy is so under developed that the country would erupt in uncertainty & riots.

I wish him & Nigeria well.

I am not particularly concerned about the health of Mr Yar adua. After all he is in a position where whenever he needs specialised medical treatment, he is hustled abroad to benefit from expensive medical facilities. I am more concerned about the health of ordinary Nigerians, like you and me, who have no choice but to rely on the inadequate health services that are available to us. People like Yar adua and others like him should be ensuring that the healthcare we receive meets a standard whereby all of are assured  decent healthcare.

Healthcare is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity. How can we claim to be a major producer of petroleum, when the majority of the country's population do not have access even to basic healthcare. In Yar adua's shoes, I would cringe at the idea of having to travel to Europe or Saudi for treatment. The Europeans would hear of this and just laugh at us. In the meantime, when ordinary people are sick in Nigeria, many have to default on their  rent payment, or starve the children before we can afford to pay for medical treatment. It sucks!

i do not see any big deal. being healthy is priceless, if the man needs medical assistance, let him go get it. i don't even care if it takes 8 months. you need a good health to be able to function well. with all the unclosed deals/rubbish the previous administration left behind, i still feel that yaradua is doing ok. things are starting to change for better, our constitution is now being embraced more than before, we are now seeing many new development all over the country and investors are now returning back to invest their money. it is a matter of time, nigeria will be back on the map like those old beautiful days.
again, if the man needs medical trip, let it be. afterall he's still the president of this country. please, do not let us make big deal out of this new development.

they dont even need to comment, the President looks like he needs cure

[/quote][quote author=cre8tivity link=topic=219988.msg3350347#msg3350347 date=1232128072]
i do not see any big deal. being healthy is priceless, if the man needs medical assistance, let him go get it. i don't even care if it takes 8 months. you need a good health to be able to function well. with all the unclosed deals/rubbish the previous administration left behind, i still feel that yaradua is doing ok. things are starting to change for better, our constitution is now being embraced more than before, we are now seeing many new development all over the country and investors are now returning back to invest their money. it is a matter of time, nigeria will be back on the map like those old beautiful days.
again, if the man needs medical trip, let it be. afterall he's still the president of this country. please, do not let us make big deal out of this new development.

hahahahaha I am speechless

Who is more out of touch than creativity on Nairaland

cre8tivity:

i do not see any big deal. being healthy is priceless, if the man needs medical assistance, let him go get it. i don't even care if it takes 8 months. you need a good health to be able to function well. with all the unclosed deals/rubbish the previous administration left behind, i still feel that yaradua is doing ok. things are starting to change for better, our constitution is now being embraced more than before, we are now seeing many new development all over the country and investors are now returning back to invest their money. it is a matter of time, nigeria will be back on the map like those old beautiful days.
again, if the man needs medical trip, let it be. afterall he's still the president of this country. please, do not let us make big deal out of this new development.

cre--8--ti--vi--ty

How dare anyone criticise you? Wow, You really must be living in a different Nigeria from what people talk about or even from what we see on TV - eh? You still managed to get water out of the desert!!!

Nice one but I hope you know that you've just created an open wound for yourself by this bold statement and I hope it'll heal before people start pouring salt on it.

Where is @Skyblue oooo!!! Roflmao!!!! I see someone who needs whipping!!!

Oh !!! B.O.S.S got here first . . . roflmao!!

una dey waste valuable energy o. serious valuable energy. KOBO and BOSS na una i dey talk to o.

i do not see any big deal. being healthy is priceless, if the man needs medical assistance, let him go get it. i don't even care if it takes 8 months. you need a good health to be able to function well. with all the unclosed deals/rubbish the previous administration left behind, i still feel that yaradua is doing ok. things are starting to change for better, our constitution is now being embraced more than before, we are now seeing many new development all over the country and investors are now returning back to invest their money. it is a matter of time, nigeria will be back on the map like those old beautiful days.
again, if the man needs medical trip, let it be. afterall he's still the president of this country. please, do not let us make big deal out of this new development.

must_a_far:

una dey waste valuable energy o. serious valuable energy. KOBO and BOSS na una i dey talk to o.

We thought we should make this lady aware of the dangers of unjustly playing with an army of termites, I think I'll follow your advice,

must_a_far:

una dey waste valuable energy o. serious valuable energy. KOBO and BOSS na una i dey talk to o.

Oh!! Be sure I learnt my lesson ! roflmao!!

B.O.S.S.:

We thought we should make this lady aware of the dangers of unjustly playing with an army of termites, I think I'll follow your advice,

She has nothing to loose, she will simply change her name like she has done in the past. She used to bear BigB1

Darling boss: you know i'm not afraid to stand by my statement. this is how i see things, it is also ok for others to see the same things differently. but most people that live in nigeria would tell you that things are better today in nigeria than 2 yrs ago, when mr. president's personal main objective (3rd term/ fighting atiku) was the most important federal government duty and overshadowed or dominated anything else. it is true that things could be better, but working with all the shit left behind by the previous administration, i give my respect to yaradua. you could say or dream what you want, but one thing is certain, being a president of nigeria is not an easy job.  the progress of a new administration solely relies on the daily activities of the previous administration. most people discover this fact as soon as they get the position. i think obama would reinforce this fact starting from jan 20th.

I shot the sheriff and the m-fucking deputy.
Diamonds are forEver

Folks, does anyone believe a lady will have that as their signature?