President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is in a Saudi Arabia hospital where he is being treated for a heart related condition

Again, a hoax! Twice, within a space of one week, Nigerians grappled with tales of the death of two prominent citizens, Maryam Babangida and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which turned out to be untrue. The former, the wife to a former military president, and the latter, the nation’s serving civilian president. No sooner had Maryam’s death rumour been dispelled by family members and friends of the former first lady than Yar’Adua’s own came up.

Yar’Adua, the Nigerian president, travelled to Saudi Arabia for a medical treatment. Soon after, rumour of his death had started filtering back to Nigeria. Many Nigerians, including journalists, reached out to their contacts for confirmation. In the end, it turned out that Yar’Adua is alive.

Newswatch learnt that Yar’Adua’s medical trip was not a scheduled appointment with his hospital in Saudi Arabia. He had developed acute pains in his chest on Friday, November 20, after participating in the Jumat prayers that day at the Abuja Central Mosque. He was examined by the State House medical team which recommended that he should immediately proceed to Saudi Arabia. Two days later, there were rumours that his condition had worsened and that he had died. The rumours were later dispelled by Segun Adeniyi, special adviser to the president on communications.

Last week Friday, Goodluck Jonathan also added his voice to the clarification on the president’s state of health. Jonathan, who had received muslim leaders who called to pay their traditional homage to the president on the Eid-El-Kabir celebration, said he had been in touch with Yar’Adua and that he was okay in hospital. The previous day, Adeniyi had read to the media a statement issued by the president’s personal physician which explained that the condition required treatment in Saudi Arabia. He said Yar’Adua was recovering and would soon return to the country.

At the press conference which held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, Adeniyi had, as a way to explain away the source of the rumour, said: “we can’t legislate against rumour.”

He then read a statement from Yar’Adua’s chief physician, Salisu Banye, saying that “preliminary medical examinations suggested acute pericarditis, an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart.”

The disease is caused by viral and bacterial infections and “autoimmune disorders, chest trauma, cancer, kidney failure, tuberculosis or drugs.”

This is not, however, the first time news of the death of the president would be making the round. It happened even before he became president and after he had assumed the position of president. And it all seemed to follow a familiar pattern. All he needed to do was to travel abroad for medical treatment and, before long, the rumour mill would be agog with news of his death.

My broda i taya o, Cannot understand why most Nigerian's want our president dead.

Okay, he is not meeting up with the 7 point agenda, but Haba, he is not the first nah.

Wish him speedy recovery o

Old News!