Nigeria's ailing "president," Umaru Yar'Adua, may be in far worse condition at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah than has previously been revealed to the Nigeria public. He appears to be abandoned and isolated, with a Saudi official ominously saying Yar'Adua will soon be delivered to Nigeria "dead or alive.". This is the devastating picture the delegation of the House of Representatives, which returned from the kingdom this morning, brought back. The delegation returned after a fruitless five-day visit in search of Yar’adua via Emirates Airlines to Lagos. Sources in Jeddah said that as hard as they tried, members of the delegation failed to set eyes on the ailing Nigerian leader on even one occasion. But they met Yar'Adua's wife, Hajia Turai, on the third day of their visit and were alarmed at her "bad shape," as she has lost weight considerably, and her few words, insisting that it is Allah that gives power and life and he would do whatever he like with it.

Turai however confided in a member of the delegation said to be close to her that she is very disappointed in the "Katsina boys" in the government as they have paid little or no attention to their principal's core needs, only jostling for power in Abuja and amassing wealth. She told the source that she was aware that Sayyad Abba Ruma had approached “Acting President” Jonathan Goodluck to be made VP.

Saharareporters learned that upon their arrival in Jeddah, members of the delegation were given a program drawn up by the Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Aminchi, in which he offered sweet deals for them to embark on an all-expenses paid Umrah in Mecca and to also visit Medina. That program would have taken three days off their schedule. But fearing that the Nigerian public was watching every move they made, they rejected the offer and insisted upon seeing Yar’Adua in order to pay homage and deliver the solidarity and get-well wishes of the House.

Strangely, they were only permitted to meet Yar'Adua's Aide-De-Camp, who assured them as usual that the president was doing “well” but couldn’t meet them as he was “resting” in the Royal wing of the hospital. He asked if they would love to tour the kingdom or move to better hotels, but the group reportedly turned down the offer and insisted they wanted to see Yar’Adua.

It was when negotiations became intense and the delegation found they were making no progress that they requested that they meet Turai, which they did on the third day. Members of the delegation were shocked at her condition and her countenance, which may suggest she may be losing hope.

The delegation was able to meet Yar’Adua’s physicians who said they could not disclose anything to them since the Yar'Adua family and the Saudi government had signed a confidentiality agreement with them. They however told the delegation that no one could enter to see Yar’adua because there are lots of complications for now, and that he is totally isolated due to various infections. What appears to be the most disconcerting point of the visit was the statement by the Saudi government official that they would be discharging Yar’Adua to Nigeria “dead or alive” sometime soon.

The delegation was led by House Minority Leader, Hon. Ali Ndume, and included, Hon. Baba Shehu, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Hon. Moruf Akinderu and Hon. Jubril Adamu. When they as they group began its initial maneuvers, they dropped Hon. Nnenna Ukeje from Abia State.
Our reporters sighted two members of the delegation-Baba Shehu and Ali Ndume as they made to board an Aero Contractor flight to Abuja at 3:30 PM Nigerian time.

The delegation would be reporting back to the House next week Tuesday, but already there are fears that the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, might block the report due to his corruption and cash-backed loyalty to the Yar’Adua dynasty.

Source: http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5152-house-delegation-returns-empty-handed-yaradua-very-sick-isolated-and-abandoned-in-jeddah.html

Hmnn.

The delegation was able to meet Yar’Adua’s physicians who said they could not disclose anything to them since the Yar'Adua family and the Saudi government had signed a confidentiality agreement with them. They however told the delegation that no one could enter to see Yar’adua because there are lots of complications for now, and that he is totally isolated due to various infections.  What appears to be the most disconcerting point of the visit was the statement by the Saudi government official that they would be discharging Yar’Adua to Nigeria “dead or alive” sometime soon.

. . .Then, we must break diplomatic relations with Saudi. They have no right to withhold information of our president whom they have in their custody; especially as the delegation represents an attempt by the Federal Government of Nigeria to solicit answers to both the whereabouts and state of our president who disappeared 3 months ago.

Saudi Arabia's attitude is deeply spiteful of Nigeria's sovereignty.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I think Saudi can do this because people just jump on the flight and run to jeddah and hope that Turai will be friendly. Well she is not in that kind of mood and so people will continue to fail to see Yar'adua.

If Jonathan does place a formal diplomatic request to see our President through the Saudi Arabian embassy. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no choice but to grant whoever Jonathan sends access. They have no right to hoard our President. They can't even do that, its just that a formal request has not been made.

But perhaps one of the reasons Jonathan is not in a rush to find out may be that he already has details of Yar'adua's health. The Saudis will be willing to share info with the Americans. And the kind of liver Jonathan developed after the visit of Jonnie Carson tells me may be he has some new info. The US has been at the vanguard of this power vacuum issue in an unprecedented way and I doubt they were only involved on the periphery.

So ignore the so called kitchen cabinet and their gra gra

This shld convince us dat Yaradua never intended a vacum in power its d power mongers in d FEC dat were trying to cause confusion.
Fellow nairalanders its not abt seein him its abt compassion for a fellow Nigerian who is in a critical stage of his life his battles in d last three months is a battle of life nd death not politics, he is a man dat believes in d power of God to give and take both life and power. Our hearts as a nation should reach out to him,his wife and family cos these are tryin times.

The truth be said not just anyone would go into visit a critically sick person in intensive care docs in d house can confirm this, now the onus is on Jonathan to peacefully ease him out of office by takin all diplomatic and official process and fairness to the man.
I pray he survives, personally I love him but I also know dat God loves him more and only God can give life and only he can take it, Father God let your will be done.

Now that Goodluck is the Acting President, i think its right for Nigerians to demand from him to let us know the where about of the President and his condition. Which ever way he deals with will give us a clear picture of where his loyalty swings.

Beaf:

. . .Then, we must break diplomatic relations with Saudi. They have no right to withhold information of our president whom they have in their custody; especially as the delegation represents an attempt by the Federal Government of Nigeria to solicit answers to both the whereabouts and state of our president who disappeared 3 months ago.

Saudi Arabia's attitude is deeply spiteful of Nigeria's sovereignty.

What a dumb statement!

Break diplomatic ties because they would not reveal the private details of health of someone.

It is the President and his ruling party that has the duty to reveal and be open about the health of the president for the nation to decide if he is fit to rule.

The truth be said[b] not just anyone [/b]would go into visit a critically sick person in intensive care docs in d house can confirm this, now the onus is on Jonathan to peacefully ease him out of office by takin all diplomatic and official process and fairness to the man.

Firstly, the visitors are not just anyone; they are there on behalf of the Nigerian government, which means they are, effectively, 150 million Nigerians asking about the health of their president. Secondly, the patient is not just any critically sick person, he is the PRESIDENT of Naija for crying out loud!!

Even if they cannot physically see the president or talk with him, they should be given unhindered access to his medical records to enable them furnish us about the true state of his health.

I am not surprised they returned empty handed. . . .
Infact i am miffed they went outhere knowing that the chances of seeing him is zilch
Yaradua's situ is not healthy at all. . . .

marvix:

This shld convince us dat Yaradua never intended a vacum in power its d power mongers in d FEC dat were trying to cause confusion.
Fellow nairalanders its not abt seein him its abt compassion for a fellow Nigerian who is in a critical stage of his life his battles in d last three months is a battle of life nd death not politics, he is a man dat believes in d power of God to give and take both life and power. Our hearts as a nation should reach out to him,his wife and family cos these are tryin times.

The truth be said not just anyone would go into visit a critically sick person in intensive care docs in d house can confirm this, now the onus is on Jonathan to peacefully ease him out of office by takin all diplomatic and official process and fairness to the man.
I pray he survives, personally I love him but I also know dat God loves him more and only God can give life and only he can take it, Father God let your will be done.

There should be pity for anyone that is ill or having health issues.

Yaradua deserves this sympathy too, but the sympathy should be shelved if he is (a) fit enough to instruct about his health at the moment but yet has not or (b) he was made aware of how badly his health would degenerate over time and he did not see it fit to pass responsibility as due and prove details to the nation.

Being sick and then leaving the country in limbo without a clear leader and without a clear up-to-date communication of the health crisis, paralysing some key government functions and making the nation a subject of ridicule internationally is a bloody affront to the Nigerian people, it is a severe insult that says "F you all, I will do as I bloody please". That should not go unpunished. If that is the case, impeach his bleeping arse.

Mai suya I don't agree wit u dat just because he is president anybody shld just hav access to his medical records even if they are his political opponents and who says 150m nigerians demand to kno atleast I don't demand it cos I think its not important and that shld be minus one from dat figure and I can assure u dat a good number of Nigerians who understand wat it is to be critically sick or being a relative to a very sick person disagrees with u.
Sagamite u may go ahead nd impeach if u lik. This man was sick and rushed out of d country and has been in ICU since then the only pple who hav access to him are his ADC nd Docs even his wife does not hav unhindered access the whole noise abt his absence possibly has not gotten to him and I restate here that Jonathan does not require a letter or a resolution by the NASS to act as president its d power mongers who want to put d nation in a limbo who were insisting that witout d leta Jonathan can't act fully in d capacity of president when his only recognised role in the constitution is to ACT in the absence of d president even when d budget may hav bin presented to Yaradua he may not hav been in a position to argue d brief may have been ur Vice have refused to sign this on ur behalf sir so y blame him?

You see the fact of the matter is that the Yar'adua's (President & First Lady) are playing an costly game or gamble that will eventually backfire in their face which may likely lead to the death of the president.

You see this confidentiality issue card that they have decided to play is what has lead Nigeria were we presently are after about close to 80 days of time wasting and constitution misinterpretation b4 Jonathan was made acting via a resolution i doubt really has legal backing.

The fact is Yaradua is very sick and they all know it,the basic things should have been done with a formal letter should have been written when he was leaving for Saudi but they decided to play the "Hear No Evil, See No Evil and Say No Evil " Card.

Any how,they are bearing the brunt gradually because the Yaradua saga will play its self out ,its just a matter of time before the hidden truths are open to the whole world.

Mark my words, Yaradua's end game is just a few cards away,so let them keep playing the confidentiality game while its last.

Sagamite:

What a dumb statement!

Break diplomatic ties because they would not reveal the private details of health of someone.

It is the President and his ruling party that has the duty to reveal and be open about the health of the president for the nation to decide if he is fit to rule.

Daft.

What if the president is in a coma or is clinically dead, should he still report his situation?
I am shocked that anyone would suggest that Nigerians should look up to PDP to tell us Yar Adua's state of health. Yar Adua is not the president of the PDP, he is the president of Nigeria and commander in chief of our armed forces.

I am wondering. . . Do you really think PDP is written into our constitution? I never knew the PDP was a legitimate barrier between the president and the Nigerian populace. . . But some people obviously think so, no wonder we were taken for a ride for 79 days.

One last thing, Yar Adua's health is not a private matter, he is the president and our most public figure; his welfare is for public consumption. It can only be treated as such in a crude and backward quasi dictatorship, like what we had until the VP was made acting president.

Beaf:

Daft.

What if the president is in a coma or is clinically dead, should he still report his situation?
I am shocked that anyone would suggest that Nigerians should look up to PDP to tell us Yar Adua's state of health. Yar Adua is not the president of the PDP, he is the president of Nigeria and commander in chief of our armed forces.

I am wondering. . . Do you really think PDP is written into our constitution? I never knew the PDP was a legitimate barrier between the president and the Nigerian populace. . . But some people obviously think so, no wonder we were taken for a ride for 79 days.

One last thing, Yar Adua's health is not a private matter, he is the president and our most public figure; his welfare is for public consumption. It can only be treated as such in a crude and backward quasi dictatorship, like what we had until the VP was made acting president.

It is the onus of the president to give an update on his health if it is obviously not superb.

If he is incapacitated and not capable of doing so, then his cabinet (made up of his party members) should be, in consultation with party leadership, providing the details through the Press Secretary of the government. If they are not doing it fast enough or at all, then the party leadership (PDP) should be requesting they do so.

It is the party that put him forward to the Nigerian people for election, so they have a responsibility along with him (the president) to communicate if he can or cannot perform the function.

The president's health is not a private matter, but it sure aint the hell Saudi Arabia's business to decide or enforce that. They owe you nothing in that respect so don't be chatting that rubbish that they should provide you with the details of the health upon request, they would need his or his family's permission to do such and to what extent, they should not be engaging in activities that might embroil them in the local political battle of another nation. The Saudi and Saudi doctors only responsibility is NOT to lie about his health when they have to release details, they either give it as it is or not give it at all, this is what they have done so far. It is the president AND his party that owes you on reporting of his health.

marvix:

Mai suya I don't agree wit u dat just because he is president anybody shld just hav access to his medical records even if they are his political opponents and who says 150m nigerians demand to kno atleast I don't demand it cos I think its not important and that shld be minus one from dat figure and I can assure u dat a good number of Nigerians who understand wat it is to be critically sick or being a relative to a very sick person disagrees with u.
[b]Sagamite u may go ahead nd impeach if u lik. This man was sick and rushed out of d country and has been in ICU since then the only pple who hav access to him are his ADC nd Docs even his wife does not hav unhindered access the whole noise abt his absence possibly has not gotten to him [/b]and I restate here that Jonathan does not require a letter or a resolution by the NASS to act as president its d power mongers who want to put d nation in a limbo who were insisting that witout d leta Jonathan can't act fully in d capacity of president when his only recognised role in the constitution is to ACT in the absence of d president even when d budget may hav bin presented to Yaradua he may not hav been in a position to argue d brief may have been your Vice have refused to sign this on your behalf sir so y blame him?

What are you trying to say? He does not know about the uproar but yet can "sign" the budget weeks after leaving the country?

If he wants to claim non-awareness then there are multiple grounds for the sack of his ADC.

In a sane world, even if he has not done anything wrong legally, he has destroyed and insulted his fiduciary obligations to the people and a public enquiry WOULD be held under oath to understand what happened.

It is at this enquiry that you nail the mofos by asking questions that would either reveal their level of irresponsibility or force them to perjure individual arses and then be arrested/impeached for perjury.

The president would have to answer why he left the country in limbo for weeks? When did he know he was incapable or how serious his health issues were? Why he did not deem it fit to let Nigeria know so that the country can be run? Who signed the budget?

The ADC and the wife would have to state why he did not update the cabinet of the president's health? Who signed the budget? How much did they know about the level of deterioration of his health? Surely the Saudi officials must have give them a best, worst and likely case of scenario? And why they did not engage other decision-makers (VP, Chief Press Secretary, Party Chairman, Special Adviser of Political Matters) on what should be the next move?

Then the VP, Chief Press Secretary, Party Chairman, Special Adviser of Political Matters would also have to come to the enquiry to disclose what they knew and what they did.

Anyone that lies, would be liable to be charged for perjury and could face jail.

If these questions are not answered, it is an insult to the nation and the individual not responding should be sacked or the House should pass a vote of no confidence in the government.

There goes tax payers money again, down the drain!

Sagamite:

It is the onus of the president to give an update on his health if it is obviously not superb.

If he is incapacitated and not capable of doing so, then his cabinet (made up of his party members) should be, in consultation with party leadership, providing the details through the Press Secretary of the government. If they are not doing it fast enough or at all, then the party leadership (PDP) should be requesting they do so.

It is the party that put him forward to the Nigerian people for election, so they have a responsibility along with him (the president) to communicate if he can or cannot perform the function.

The president's health is not a private matter, but it sure aint the hell Saudi Arabia's business to decide or enforce that. They owe you nothing in that respect so don't be chatting that rubbish that they should provide you with the details of the health upon request, they would need his or his family's permission to do such and to what extent, they should not be engaging in activities that might embroil them in the local political battle of another nation. The Saudi and Saudi doctors only responsibility is NOT to lie about his health when they have to release details, they either give it as it is or not give it at all, this is what they have done so far. It is the president AND his party that owes you on reporting of his health.

With due respect, the above is a lot of rubbish in a lot of words.

Nigerians are not beholden to either the president or the PDP. Your whole view on this is muddled. I will stress it here that the president is Nigeria’s number one public servant. The PDP doesn’t even come into the equation; if he is dead, will we wait until the PDP in their benevolence, announces it to us? Crazy.

Thank goodness, you got it that the president’s health is not a private matter. I will add that, only the enslaved will feel that when an arm of our government (and by extension, the Nigerian people) demands answers, his doctors or some foreign national has the right to withhold answers. Wash your face Charlie.

Beaf:

With due respect, the above is a lot of rubbish in a lot of words.

Nigerians are not beholden to either the president or the PDP. Your whole view on this is muddled. I will stress it here that the president is Nigeria’s number one public servant. The PDP doesn’t even come into the equation; if he is dead, will we wait until the PDP in their benevolence, announces it to us? Crazy.

Thank goodness, you got it that the president’s health is not a private matter. I will add that, only the enslaved will feel that when an arm of our government (and by extension, the Nigerian people) demands answers, his doctors or some foreign national has the right to withhold answers. Wash your face Charlie.

My friend, don't be dumb.

Saudi doctors have no duty to you to get muddled in your local politics. You sure know nothing about politics.

You want to tell me if Saudi King goes to UK for treatment, the UK government or doctors have some right to reveal his medical condition without permission or against his wish? Are you serious?

Your questions on the President's health should be directed to the president or his team (which includes his party). The PDP come into the equation as they put him forward for election. He was elected on their platform and their party's political machinery have him under their control to an extent.

It is as silly as saying the Labour party have nothing to say about Gordon Brown's behaviour or Democrats have nothing to say about Obama.

You OBVIOUSLY know nothing about politics. Get more knowledge about politics, I can't even believe I am debating such.

It shld be clear to any right thinking Nigerian that the likelihood of Yar Adua returning to Nigeria alive is actually close to zero.

Sagamite:

My friend, don't be dumb.

Saudi doctors have no duty to you to get muddled in your local politics. You sure know nothing about politics.

You want to tell me if Saudi King goes to UK for treatment, the UK government or doctors have some right to reveal his medical condition without permission or against his wish? Are you serious?

Your questions on the President's health should be directed to the president or his team (which includes his party). The PDP come into the equation as they put him forward for election. He was elected on their platform and their party's political machinery have him under their control to an extent.

It is as silly as saying the Labour party have nothing to say about Gordon Brown's behaviour or Democrats have nothing to say about Obama.

You OBVIOUSLY know nothing about politics. Get more knowledge about politics, I can't even believe I am debating such.

. . .Therefore, the politicians who went to Saudi to elicit information on Yar Adua's health "OBVIOUSLY know nothing about politics" too?
I didn't go, members of the National Assembly did.

Now as to the Saudi king going AWOL in the UK. There is no doubt that if the Saudi's sent a government delegation, answers would pour forth.
We really must get rid of our slavish attitudes in Nigeria, it makes us think like we are second class citizens, humans etc. Low self esteem at both individual and national levels have served to keep our country huttling backwards toward stone age irrelevance, instead of developing and matching forward.

Beaf:

. . .Therefore, the politicians who went to Saudi to elicit information on Yar Adua's health "OBVIOUSLY know nothing about politics" too?
I didn't go, members of the National Assembly did.

Now as to the Saudi king going AWOL in the UK. There is no doubt that if the Saudi's sent a government delegation, answers would pour forth.
We really must get rid of our slavish attitudes in Nigeria, it makes us think like we are second class citizens, humans etc. Low self esteem at both individual and national levels have served to keep our country huttling backwards toward stone age irrelevance, instead of developing and matching forward.

The Nigerian NASS members that went to Saudi are not following some political rules, they are only doing it the "Nigerian" way. If the Saudi send a government delegation to UK, the UK government would direct them to their sick president or embassy, they UK government owes them NADA!

As I said earlier, the president has not done anything illegal by not releasing his health records (except it is in some law I am not aware about). What he is doing is depleting his political capital by not doing so.

The only benefit of doubt I can give the NASS members is that they are visiting on the premise that they are giving Yaradua a chance to be open by meeting him and having a chat with him.

In a sane world, a president not providing details of his health conditions after being out of the country and being incommunicado for weeks might not have done something illegal but has provided enough grounds to question whether he is fit enough to carry out the duty of the role.

Such grounds is enough to request he shows he is fit for office (not NASS having to go and find out), otherwise the legislators can impeach him. Even though it is not illegal to be a sick president, it is now left to the judgement of the people's representatives (the elected legislators) to decide if he is fit or not for the role.

But our daft NASS did it the "Nigerian" way: "Sweep rules under the carpet and pander to the special interest of the big man and political heavyweights".

The dumbfuck instead of answering to Nigerians went on to answer to BBC. Bloody AIDS-ridden mooooron he is.

Yaradua is a public servant employed by all Nigerians, just as an employer is entitled by request to your medical records to ascertain your capacity, ability and suitability to carry out the functions of your employment. His Yaradua’s medical record and or state of health is the expected obligatory entitlement of his employers citizens of Nigeria to demand and know. He lost all rights of privacy when he took the contractually binding oath of office to be president.

As it stands If you go AWOL in any form of employment it is classed as dereliction of duty and gross misconduct. If you are not well or ill, there is an official protocol, process management, policy, etc, etc, to report, inform and update your employers about your state of health, this is just normal universal employment practice. If you fail to inform, report and update it becomes absent without leave (AWOL) and you are rightfully sacked.

Yaradua did not and has not taken sick leave, he has failed to inform, update and or report to his employers fellow Nigerians, rather he has misinformed, misrepresented, fraudulently by intention deceived and blatantly led the nation on a merry go round of subterfuge and surreptitious manipulations of government.

Yaradua remains AWOL, this is GROSS MISCONDUCT and he should simply be IMPEACHED. Finally, these actions of Yaradua are subversive against the nation if not for our complete total lack of integrity him and his kitchen cabinet and cohorts in every arm of government should be tried for treason.

But this is Naija, truth, integrity, justice and fair play are not meals served in the restaurant of our politics, I TIRE !!!

Question is; is he still alive?

Is this not the biggest con in Nigeria history unfolding?

It was clear to every discerning Nigerian, ab initio, that the Rep. Delegation's junket to Saudi Arabia was motivated by the itch to share 'estacodes' and travel allowances. Bunch of cretins they all are. Even my illiterate aboki knew they were never gonna see Yar'adua.

Yar Adua is dead until proven alive.