Yar’adua’s Mum: ‘No quarrel with Turai’

The President’s sister Hajiya Mairo Yar’adua, who spoke on behalf of the First Mum yesterday.


Rumours of a conflict between the nation’s First Lady and the First Mum, allegedly over whether the ailing President Umaru Yar’adua should quit office in view of his health problems, were dismissed yesterday by Hajiya Dada Habib Yar’adua, who said she never had any quarrel with her daughter-in-law as alleged by some newspapers. The reticent presidential mum spoke last night through her daughter, the president’s sister Hajiya Mairo Musa Yar’adua.


Hajiya Mairo said, “The attention of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s family has been drawn to the false, malicious and obviously sponsored media reports that suggested that the President’s mother, Hajia Dada Habib Yar’Adua asked Mr. President to resign from office on account of his ill health. The reports also insinuated that Hajia Dada is at loggerheads with the President’s wife, Hajiya Turai, whom the newspapers claimed was urging the President to sit tight. Since this reportage, the President’s mother has been very sad because there was never a time that such statements were made by her.


“To put the records straight, the President’s mother has never spoken to the media. She enjoys a cordial relationship with her daughter-in-law, Turai. The president’s mother, contrary to media reports, is supportive of Mr. President’s foray into politics and has always encouraged him to render selfless service to the good people of Nigeria.


“All the President’s mother has been doing since her son travelled abroad for medical treatment is offering fervent prayers for his speedy recovery. She believes it is normal for human beings to fall sick, and recover. She has therefore never contemplated asking the President to resign.


“It is therefore highly irresponsible for anybody to drag the President’s mother into the politics of the President’s health. What she expects from Nigerians is to pray for the quick recovery of her son. The mass media should strive to be more responsible in their reports and desist from being used as tools of blackmail by disgruntled politicians. The media should cross check their facts before going to press. At this critical stage of the nation’s development, the media should concentrate on issues that unite us and not heat up the polity.


“It is distressing that some media houses even involved the late brother of Mr. President, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua in this unhealthy rumour and gossips. Hajia Dada Yar’Adua is asking these journalists and political opponents of Mr President to leave her alone, and allow her late son to rest in peace!


“Hajia Dada Yar’Adua also calls on the media houses responsible for these falsehoods to retract the misleading reports and apologize to the family or face legal action.”


An Ibadan-based newspaper had alleged at the weekend that the two women had quarrelled because while the First Mum urged Yar’adua to quit the presidency and look after his health, the First Lady allegedly urged him to hold fast to his powerful office.

2011 Hits High Gear, Parties hold Conventions

Activities have heightened in the political parties as they prepare feverishly for their conventions ahead of the 2011 general elections.


The country's two main political groupings, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress (AC), are set to hold their conventions at which plans and candidates for the polls are expected to be high on the agenda.


In fact, a crucial meeting of the PDP's National Executive Committee (NEC) has been fixed for next Thursday to address some critical issues, including the convention and President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's health.


Also, the AC is to hold its convention at Onikan Stadium in Lagos at 10.00 a.m. next Saturday, December 12, 2009.


Those eligible to attend, according to an AC statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji

Lai Mohammed, are the National Chairman and other officials of the party as well as governors and other government functionaries at different levels.


The Guardian learnt that the PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) led by the party's chairman, Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, took the initiative by requesting for a NEC meeting in the face of the opposition's stance on the President's health. He reassured the nation that there is no need to panic as the President was responding to treatment and would soon return to the country.


It was also gathered that at the NEC meeting, the party faithful are likely going to pass a vote of confidence on Yar'Adua to send a signal to the opposition that their wish would be fruitless.

The NEC meeting, according to sources, will discuss the modalities for the mid-term convention of the party where the NWC is supposed to render account of stewardship since assuming power in 2008.

As part of preparation for the activities, Ogbulafor led some members of the NWC to Aso Rock Villa yesterday morning to discuss with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. The meeting, The Guardian gathered, endorsed the work plan of the NWC and went into a long discussion on the ruling of the Appeal Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, nullifying the candidature of the candidate of PDP for the February 6, 2010 governorship election in Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Consequently, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Olusola Oke, was asked to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling.

Oke said the party had filed an appeal at the apex court and that the PDP's position remains that Soludo is its candidate unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise.

The PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, confirmed that the party was taking some steps to strengthen its structure.


Oke also disclosed yesterday that the party would take legal steps to correct what it considered an illegality in the bye-election that took place in Ondo State at the weekend.


During the election, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya and some other federal lawmakers were allegedly arrested by the police. But Oke said the senator was mandated by the party to lead its delegation but they were allegedly attacked by the agents of Labour Party (LP). He dismissed allegation by the LP that PDP attempted to rig as false. He remarked: "I stand before you with every authority and honour I can muster to declare that it is absolutely untrue and totally unacceptable that the gentlemen could descend to that level as they did not in any manner whatsoever, hijack any ballot box in any part of that constituency."


The party called on the Inspector General of Police to set up a panel to probe the incident and asked the security agents at the election to produce their reports.


"We will take legal action to redeem the image of the Senator," he vowed.


A bye-election to fill the vacant seat of Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in Ondo State was held at the weekend and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the LP winner.


And after a rash of speculations linking him with a plot to use Yar'Adua's present indisposition to achieve an alleged presidential ambition, Senate President, David Mark, yesterday alluded to a campaign of blackmail to set him on a collision cause with the recuperating Nigerian leader.


He expressed dismay that the President's ill-health was being exploited by some people, whose names he refused to mention, to introduce disaffection among government functionaries.


His words yesterday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch Law Week: "I feel very strongly about what is happening. Sycophants and praise singers have cashed (in) on the situation; we must condemn these acts. It is inhuman and unjust. They deliberately sell dummies to newspapers. The following morning, they collect the newspapers and fly to Saudi Arabia to tell lies. It is totally mischievous and in bad faith. I do not have such ambition. If others nurse so, certainly not David Mark.


Meanwhile, more groups have continued to react to calls for the resignation of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as a result of his ill-health.


A group, "The Association of Former Councillors and Ward Leaders in Nigeria (AFCOWN), yesterday condemned calls by some Nigerians for Yar'Adua's resignation from office on health grounds, unpatriotic and undemocratic.

The association also urged Nigerians to embark on a three-day fasting and prayers for the president to recover on time.

At a press conference addressed by its national co-ordinator, Elder Mike Omohimua, in Abuja yesterday, the group pointed out that nobody was immuned to one form of ailment or the other.

He said: "Those alleged to have signed or endorsed the resignation of the president on account of health probably do not understand the implications of their positions. They call themselves patriotic Nigerians speaking for the country but I ask them: Where were they when fuel prices were increased? Why did they not protest? I am aware they want to organize protests for a president who is ill to resign and they call themselves patriotic Nigerians."

"Lagos yesterday, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Most Revd. Adebola Ademowo, said: "We are praying for the President for quick recovery. It is our responsibility to pray for him so that he can recover fully and be at his desk."

He said that for Nigeria to be an enviable country, Christians and Christian leaders must live like the first century Christians. According to him, this is the only way for non-Christian neighbours to respect the Christian faith when they see Christ-like-behaviour being put into practise.

He said: "A lot of people that preach now, preach churchianity, they preach denominationalism whereas they are supposed to preach the gospel. The gospel is the message that does not change, but changes lives and it is very important for the church leaders to partner with the government to make meaningful impact in the society."

He noted that church leaders had been playing a very noble role in the area of prayer and had condemned actions of the governments where necessary and commended it when they do well.

As the controversy over Yar'Adua's health rages, Nigerian students yesterday called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to set up a committee in line with Section 144 of the Constitution to determine whether the President has the capacity to continue leading the country or not.

Under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), they said it would be premature to call for the resignation of the President without following due process which informed the call to set up a committee.

Although the students at a press conference by the Chairman, Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of NANS, Adeyemo Tunde, expressed sympathy with the President over his failing health, they maintained that Yar'Adua's absence has created a vacuum which must be filled without delay.

The students urged FEC to put sentiment aside and work for national interest.

The students also frowned at the state of the nation's healthcare system, saying the inability of the President to seek medical attention in Nigeria despite the large number of teaching hospitals in the country had exposed Nigerian leaders as hypocrites who had been paying lip-service to the country's affairs.

Adeyemo also opposed the planned deregulation of the oil sector saying the move was an attempt to further impoverish Nigerians and restated their resolve to resist it.

Yar'Adua's Special Adviser on National Assembly matters, Senator Mohammed Abba Aji, yesterday met with Vice President Jonathan, but was silent when he emerged from the parley.

However, he vehemently denied that there was a time he refused to submit a letter of leave from the President to Mark and the House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole.

Asked what he discussed with Jonathan, he said: "I will not be sharing with you what I discussed with the Vice President; that is not a fair question."

On the leave letter which, according to a newspaper (not The Guardian) he allegedly advised the President against sending to the National Assembly, Aji retorted: "The paper had said there is a letter written that I refused to submit, that is not true. There is no such letter, at all. So the story is baseless and it's false."

In another statement yesterday regarding the newspaper publication, Aji wrote: "More worrisome to me was the fact that the writer of that report failed to contact me to confirm the authenticity of such report before going to press.

"It is surprising that a national newspaper could go to town with a report of that gravity without bothering to seek confirmation from me..."

Last February when Yar'Adua went on leave without writing to the National Assembly, Aji had said in an interview that the President did not need to inform the lawmakers before proceeding on a yearly vacation.

His words: "The President is not required by the Constitution to write the Senate. There is no constitutional requirement for him to do so."

Quoting copiously from the Section 145 of the Constitution, he said: "This section does not say he has to write such a letter. The President is elected for a four-year term that includes every second of every minute of that period.

"Whether he is asleep, on vacation, on leave or on a trip to the moon, the Vice President is also the same under all these conditions.

"Today, the Vice President has presided over the exco-meeting. They (the President and the Vice President) have a fantastic relationship. I have never seen a President and a Vice President working so harmoniously.

"These are elected not appointed political office holders. So, the issue of the President handing over does not arise.

"In the course of Obasanjo's eight years in office, he never wrote any such letter. There is therefore no need for such a letter.

"I was in the Senate for four of those years. He (Olusegun Obasanjo) never handed over to any body. The Vice President is assisting the President."

Yar'Adua is suffering from heart condition

After days of silence over President Umaru Yar'Adua's state of health, the Presidency, yesterday, said Mr. Yar'Adua, who was admitted into the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, has been diagnosed of acute pericarditis (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).

Salihu Banye, the president's chief physician, who is currently with him in Saudi Arabia, said this in a statement following the rumours making the rounds in the country that the president was dead.

He added that more checks at the same hospital, where he had his last medical check-up in August, confirmed the initial diagnosis of the same condition.

In explaining the circumstances which led to the president's trip to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Banye said: "At about 3pm on Friday, November 20th, after he returned from the Abuja Central Mosque where he performed the Juma'at prayers, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua complained of left sided severe chest pain. Preliminary medical examinations suggested acute pericarditis, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).

"It was then decided that he should undertake confirmatory checks at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he had his last medical check-up in August.

"The medical review and tests undertaken at the hospital have confirmed the initial diagnosis that the President is indeed suffering from acute pericarditis." According to him, the president is responding well to the treatment he is currently receiving.

"He is now receiving treatment for the ailment and is responding remarkably well," Mr. Banye said.

Understanding our president's illness Acute pericarditis is a disease which causes the inflammation of the membrane (the pericardium) surrounding the heart. This condition begins suddenly and is painful. In most cases, it results from an infection or conditions that irritate the pericardium.

The irritation of the pericardium can be caused by disease, drugs, invasive cardiothoracic procedures and chest trauma.

Its most common symptom is a sharp stabbing chest pain on the left side of the chest which grows worse when the person is lying down, coughing or taking deep breaths.

It is most common in men and research has shown that one out of five persons who suffer from this ailment has a recurrence within months of the original episode.

Governance goes on Olusegun Adeniyi, the President's spokesperson, said "The vice president is now acting on behalf of the president. He takes charge in the absence of the president." In this light, he will today receive Muslims at the Presidential Villa as part of activities marking the Id-el-Kabir.

While fielding questions from journalists, the spokesperson said Mr. Yar'Adua felt really bad that people rumoured him dead.

"He is a human being, naturally he will feel bad. This is not the first time, the President was aware of the rumour. He felt bad about it as any normal human being would," Mr. Adeniyi said.

No plans for the Hajj Mr. Adeniyi also refuted claims that the president was going to perform the Hajj.

Reuters, yesterday, quoted a spokesperson for the hospital where Mr. Yar'Adua is receiving treatment as saying, "The Nigerian president is in good condition. He underwent routine internal medical checks and had lunch today at the hospital.

"He may well leave tomorrow to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca." However, the president's spokesperson said, "It is definitely not true; even before the President travelled, he knew that he was not going to perform the Hajj. Even when I did the first draft for the statement, I stated that the President will do medicals and undergo Hajj, but he said no, I am not going to do Hajj. So there is no way he is going to do Hajj," he added.

The statement which Mr. Adeniyi had issued upon the president's departure was silent on the ailment he suffers.

Yesterday's disclosure by the president's physician was the first time an official statement was made on his ailment since rumours about his poor health became popular.

Saudi visa delayed president's trip On the day of his departure, the president was said to have left late in the night instead of at the planned time. The delay was attributed to the holiday in Saudi Arabia.

"Actually what happened was that the President was supposed to leave earlier in the day but because of the holidays in Saudi Arabia they couldn't procure his visa in time," Mr. Adeniyi said.

Once in Saudi Arabia, our president sought care at the 894-bed hospital which commenced the provision of medical services to Jeddah city and to the Western Region of the Kingdom in March 2000.

It is fully equipped with the most modern medical equipment and technology available.

It observes a full compliance with royal directives which is consistent with its healthcare leadership role in the community, and regards smoking as harmful to health. Smoking is prohibited throughout the hospital buildings and in all hospital vehicles and buses.

There are also reports that Isa Yuguda, the governor of Bauchi State who is also an in-law to the president, and his wife, Nefisah, have travelled to Saudi Arabia to join the president's wife and other members of the family.

Eid-Kabir: Price of Rams, Foodstuffs Double in Kano

Kano people may not likely sacrifice animals during the forthcoming  Eid-El Kabir sallah celebration due to the skyrocketing prices of rams and even foodstuffs because of double increase of price.
  THISDAY in Kano investigation  yesterday at metropolis revealed that the price had jumped  from N25,000 to as much as N60,000  and in some places there are those nearly selling N80,000.
It was learnt that a moderate ram is being sold at about N35,000 , a situation which made many people both within the cycle of workers and business community to suspend the purchase for now.
  All over the city of Kano, ,  ram sellers were going round with bulk number of their commodity while some had stationed themselves in strategic locations, selling both rams and cows.
Mallam Mansur Kura, a ram dealer  told THISDAY that both the buyers and the sellers are suffering this year, saying  there were no much purchases because of the scarcity of funds.
  He said he cannot remember the time when the market was so dormant, adding that many of them do go back to their villages without selling two or even one ram.
  A civil servant in Kano told THISDAY on anonymity that  even though the government will give them 50 percent bonus of their basic salaries,  many of them would celebrate the occasion without slaughtering ram .
Along BUK road, Zoo road and Wudil roads where the dealers have stationed themselves in a strategic place, many people interviewed said they would wait till sallah day to make such a purchase while some said they have resorted going to village markets.
Our correspondent learnt that this year,  many people gave up buying rams, as majority of the people interviewed said  the current economic hardship is biting hard, calling on the Federal Government to devise means of redeeming the situation.

Jonathan: Nigerians’ll Stop Using Generators Next Year

From Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan came a bold declaration yesterday: that Nigerians will no longer use generators for their industrial and private power needs by this time next year.

Speaking in Kaduna at the inauguration of a production line for Peugeot 306 Sedan, Jonathan reisterated that Fed-eral Government is putting necessary machinery in place to meet all its targets in the power sector, beginning with the generation and distribution of 6,000mw scheduled for December.

He said Federal Govern-ment’s plan to re-stimulate the manufacturing and transport industries in the country is anchored on the provision of key infrastructure such as power, railway, roads and waterways, as well as creating a positive environment for investment to thrive.

He said in view of the current global economic meltdown, the government has set up a committee to interface with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in order to arrive at concrete intervention measures across different sectors of the economy.

He added: “To this end, submissions from scores of organisations have been received and that will aid the committee in determining specific responses to their peculiar situations. In addition, government has taken cognizance of the need to support local industry by galvanising Nigerians to tie their purchasing power to national interest.”

Jonathan commended the management of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) for sustaining production even in the face of growing challenges that have beset the automobile industry in the world.

Earlier in his speech, Governor Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State said the steady growth of PAN had been a source of joy and pride to the government and people of the state.

He said being the largest private employer of labour in the state, PAN has contributed immensely to the development of the local and state economy.

He however, urged the management to device means of reducing the cost of production and cost of the car to make it affordable to generality of Nigerians.

In a welcome address, the Managing Director of PAN, Dr. Haroun Aliyu, said the 307 Sedan is the first product initiated and executed under the new Nigerian management of the company.

He said despite huge challenges, the management has introduced an elaborate plan to return the company to production peak recorded in the 80s. He however appealed to governments, corporate organisations and individuals to patronise the company's products with a view to making it compete.

Jonathan’s promise of stable electricity came on the heels of a similar promise by Minister of Power, Dr. Rilwanu Babalola, who disclosed at the weekend that the power currently being generated in the country has increased to 3500 megawatts, maintaining that the 6000 megawatts target for next month is realisable.

Babalola was speaking during a working tour of Geregu Gas Turbine Power Plant in Kogi State.

The minister said: “Steady power supply is not magic. It can only be achieved through hard work and that is why I am still paying working visits to power plants on weekends to see things for myself in order to have first hand information on all the factors and challenges facing them because the government cannot afford to fail on its promise to Nigerians.”

‘Yar’Adua’s 7-Point Agenda Designed for 8 Yrs’

The 7-Point Agenda of President Umaru Yar’Adua was designed to last for a period of eight years, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Senator Polycarp Nwite has said.
Also, the Yar’Adua Vision for New Nigeria has clarified its position, saying it is committed to monitoring the various stages of implementations of the Seven Point Programme of the President.
Nwite told  THISDAY in Abuja  that there is no way the programme would last for only four years.
He said that the level of under development and decay in the country were so pervasive to warrant the implementation of the programme within four years.
“It (7-point Agenda) is designed for 8 years. It cannot be completed within four years. There is no way he can complete the seven point agenda within  four years," he said adding “the monumental destruction in this country before the President came in is not something you can solve in 12 years but as the saying goes, a million mile journey starts from the right step (and) the right step is what Mr. President has taken towards solving the ills of this country and we are going to solve it by the grace of God.”
He said that he would advise Yar'Adua to contest the 2011 Presidential election on account of his sterling performance in office.
 Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Mohammed Harilu Bello had also said that the seven point agenda was designed to last for eight years.
But  National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Prof. Ahmed Alkali said in Kaduna during a book launch that no decision has been taken by President Yar’Adua to contest or not, as consultations are still on going.
He also said that the party is yet to take a decision on whether to throw the contest open for all interested aspirants.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Yar’Adua Vision for New Nigeria , Dr. Aminu Idris yesterday said that the main objective of the group is how to promote the implementation of the seven point agenda of the President in the 36 states of the federation.
“We are not a political party, but as a political pressure group, we are out to ensure that the seven point agenda is given adequate publicity. We are more or less ensuring that the good works of the President on what has been achieved in the seven point agenda is well publicised,” he said.

Militants’ Rehabilitation Urgent, Ateke Tells FG

Leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM), Mr. Ateke Tom, has called on the Federal Government to hasten the resettlement of militants who have laid down arms, saying the burden of fending for his group alone is heavy.

He also requested the creation of another State from Rivers State for Ijaws in the riverine areas arguing they deserve a state of their own.

Ateke who spoke with THISDAY in his Okochiri home noted that since the repentant militants came out from the creeks, the feeding allowance promised by the government has not been regular while the cost of keeping them is borne by him alone.

“Since they gave me amnesty, I have not done anything. My boys they promised to give jobs, teach trade and send back to school have not had any of those things. I am the only one taking care of my boys.

“They said my boys should come and register and they will pay them money and for a month they have not paid them. I want them to do something fast so that the problem will go away from me. They are talking about rehabilitation but nothing is coming. They should do what they said”, he stated.

He denied that boys under his control were among those who rioted at Aluu camp where about 12 girls were allegedly raped serially by rampaging militants. He pointed out that his own group are always around him in his house.

According to Ateke, he is a chief who needs space, one of the reasons why he urged the Federal Government to engage his boys to afford him time to attend to other issues. Asked if he submitted all his weapons, he replied in the positive.

“We submitted everything we had, maybe that is why the federal government is taking their time before doing anything for us knowing we are no more armed”. On whether there are some of his boys in the camps, he answered in the negative, adding the remaining are those who take care of his poultry, fish farms and dogs. He also asked the government to assist him in his agricultural endeavours.

He expressed confidence in the amnesty programme, describing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as “sincere and honest” and capable of solving the Niger Delta problem.

Ateke said his conviction that the amnesty programme would work stems from the discussions he had with President Yar’Adua in Abuja.

He denied ever being involved in illegal oil bunkering and kidnapping except on one occasion when his boy Ota was killed by government forces prompting him to take some hostages. “Ota was sent to bring food for us to the camp and he was killed by the government. I became angry and we fought with the soldiers for a long time. Then I went and took hostages of some Nigerians and foreigners. The government asked me why and I told them that they killed my boy.

He claimed the hostages were released following an apology from the government without a dime paid as ransom. On the whereabouts of his family, he said they were at a hidden location in Port Harcourt.