| Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has no plans to resign, his spokesman said on Tuesday, responding to local media reports that he was planning to step down because of health problems.
“It is absolutely rubbish. There is no such thing. The president has not resigned and there is nothing like that in the offing,” said spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi.
The 57-year-old leader, known to have a chronic kidney problem, travelled to Saudi Arabia officially for a Muslim pilgrimage. But senior Nigerian officials and a medical source in Saudi Arabia said he had received treatment during the trip.
Yar’Adua’s health has been a source of constant speculation in the Nigerian media and opposition politicians, among others, have voiced concern about whether he is fit enough to govern.
State security officers arrested three senior TV journalists in connection with the false report, which was broadcast by Channels TV sourcing the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“Since NAN itself has categorically denied being the source of the report that the president may resign, it can only be assumed that the report is the handiwork of persons who do not wish the country well,” Adeniyi said.
IN CUSTODY
NAN’s Deputy Editor-In-Chief John Ndukuba, Channels TV station manager in Abuja Sola Olaiya and editorial chief Bashir Adigun were taken into custody.
Around 15 state security officers shutdown the Channels TV office in Abuja, an employee of the station said.
Yar’Adua’s victory in April 2007 polls has been challenged at the Supreme Court by his two main rivals. Should he become unable to govern there could be a constitutional crisis in Africa’s leading oil producer.
His health has been a source of concern even before he became president over a year ago. He had to be rushed to a hospital in Germany while he was campaigning in March last year, just weeks ahead of the presidential election.
He has since returned to Germany on several occasions for medical check-ups, the latest in April. |
