Katsina Governor Umaru Musa Yar�Adua has confirmed he is indeed in fine health, despite recent rumors to the contrary. On the phone with his associates this afternoon he said, �I wish to thank all my supporters for their well wishes, and want to assure them I�m quite fine and will be back on the campaign trail shortly.�
Despite a statement by the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ojo Maduekwe, explaining the health status of the party�s presidential candidate, Governor Umaru Musa Yar�Adua, a section of the media reported erroneously this morning that the candidate collapsed yesterday and was rushed abroad for medical attention. That was a false account of the situation, and is part of a smear campaign intended to malign to candidate and draw attention away from the candidate�s proposal to move the nation forward with good jobs, constant power and better education for all.
On Monday, March 5 Governor Yar�Adua, as part of his routine medical check-up, reported to his doctors at a private clinic, where regular tests were conducted. Some of the results indicated that that the candidate was under stress and would require to rest. He was accordingly recalled yesterday morning by the clinic and advised to rest. Following this medical report, his personal physicians who had complained that the grueling presidential campaign had obstructed the candidate�s medical schedule, saw an opportunity to let the candidate rest. They seized it, insisting that Yar�Adua should not only suspend the campaign for a few days, but must travel abroad for long overdue specialist medical check-up.
After consultation with President Olusegun Obasanjo and the PDP leadership, Governor Yar�Adua accepted the advice of his doctors to travel abroad for rest and an overdue medical check-up. He left for Germany last night. It is, therefore, categorically untrue that he collapsed and had to be rushed to a private hospital for medical attention.
Reports from Germany give clear assurances that the candidate is in fine health. In fact, Governor Yar�Adua in a telephone conversation with his associates this afternoon expressed appreciation to all Nigerians who had shown their concern following reports that he had travelled abroad.
Governor Yar�Adua further assured Nigerians that he would soon return to the country to rejoin the campaign, re-invigorated and better prepared to carry out his campaign promise of to keep Nigeria moving forward through a proposal of good jobs, constant power, and better education.
He said: �The widespread show of concern by Nigerians is a comforting demonstration of the confidence they have in me and my party to keep Nigeria moving forward.�
We appreciate the concerns shown by Nigerians and assure them that our presidential candidate will be back shortly to continue with his campaign for their support in the forthcoming elections, which promises to mark a defining moment in our country�s march forward to economic prosperity.
Ndu Ughamadu
Chief Spokesperson to the PDP presidential candidate
March 7