Yar’Adua’s ill-health continues to dominate media

Suffering from acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart, President Yar’Adua flew to Saudi Arabia on 23 November for medical attention – his fourth medical trip abroad since 2007.

The disease, which is caused by viral and bacterial infections, can restrict normal heart beat.

Since the president’s trip, however, there have been mixed reactions to the vacuum created at the presidency. Many Nigerians have said that Yar’Adua should be constitutionally eased out of office, and his Vice, Goodluck Jonathan, installed President. However, public officials, including his ministers, State governors and legislators insist that the preside nt would soon be back on his seat.

Shortly after, rumours that Yar’Adua had died swept through the country, causing confusion and panic among Nigerians.

The Sun newspaper headlined its story on Saturday, “Time up! North at last dumps Yar’Adua. — Ex-military leaders that installed Obasanjo shop for successor.”

According to the paper, the party appears to be over for ailing President Yar’Adua as the same forces that made Chief Olusegun Obasanjo president in 1999 have taken a critical decision: ‘It’s time up for you, Mr. President.’

The Sun said the “power brokers” had not only withdrawn their formidable support for his (Yar’Adua’s) presidency, but they were of the strong view that the nation was bigger than one individual and could not be held hostage by the interest of one man and his group.

On Wednesday, the Sun headlined its story “Saudi doctors shift Yar’Adua’s return”, saying the doctors treating President Yar’Adua had ruled out any chance of the ailing president returning to the country this week or early next week.

“Yar’Adua’s Repeated Coughs Worry Saudi Doctors,” was the headline story of Saturday Tribune.

The paper said Nigerians may have to wait a little longer for the return of President Yar’Adua from Saudi Arabia where he is currently receiving treatment for acute pericarditis.

This is because doctors at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital where the president is on admission have said that the president could not leave the hospital for now.

In its headline story on Wednesday, “No date yet for President’s return, says FEC”, the Guardian reported that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had put paid to speculations that President Yar’Adua might return to the country this week from Saudi Arabia.

It quoted Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, as saying that there was no definite date for the President’s return.

“The president can only return to the country on the advice of his doctors,” Akunyili was quoted as saying.

Akunyili said “rather than speculating on when the President would return, Nigerians should pray for his full recovery”.

The Vanguard captioned its story on Thursday “Only doctors can confirm Yar’Adua’s return”, quoting the Federal government officials.

It said as pressure continued to mount on ailing President Yar’Adua to resign immediately or unconditionally handover to the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Government on Wednesday reaffirmed that no matter the pressure, Yar’Adua would not be advised to resign.

The reaffirmation, the second in two weeks, coincided with government’s denial of knowledge of the President’s return this week, stating that it was only his doctors who could confirm when he would return.