Call for ill Yar'Adua to quit

2009-12-02 18:16

Lagos - Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday published a call from a group of public figures for President Umaru Yar'Adua to quit or prove he is fit enough to govern, deepening debate over the leadership of the oil producing nation.

The 58-year old leader was flown to a clinic in Saudi Arabia nine days ago after complaining of chest pains and has been diagnosed with acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane around the heart that can restrict normal beating.

The president's spokesperson has said Yar'Adua was responding well to treatment, while Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has said he has spoken with the president and that he was healthy. The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) has said he will return home soon and resume work.

At least nine Nigerian newspaper front pages carried a statement, reported to have been signed by more than 50 public figures, calling on Yar'Adua to resign immediately or allow a medical panel to confirm his fitness to govern.

The Daily Trust newspaper, citing Nigerian officials in Saudi Arabia, said Yar'Adua was now out of intensive care but that only his wife and Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia had been allowed to visit him.

'Series of overseas medical trips'

Yar'Adua's stay in a clinic in the Red Sea port of Jeddah is the latest in a series of overseas medical trips which have raised concern about his fitness. He has in the past visited Saudi and Germany to treat a chronic kidney problem.

"It is clear to every discerning observer that President Umaru Yar'Adua's physical condition has had a negative impact on his ability to discharge the functions of the highest office in our nation," the statement said, according to the newspapers.

The list of names reported to have signed includes former presidential candidates, former state governors, lawyers, a former Senate president and a former chief of defence staff.

It was not immediately possible to check with all of those listed whether they had signed the document as reported but one of those named told Reuters he had not been consulted.

"I didn't sign the statement and wasn't consulted about it. I never gave any consent," said Festus Okoye, executive director of Human Rights Monitor based in the northern city of Kaduna.

"My position is if the president is further incapacitated the (cabinet) must meet first to make a determination of what should be done next. This has not been done," he told Reuters.

The Vanguard newspaper quoted seven of those listed as saying they had signed or supported the statement's sentiment.

Nineteen politicians from Yar'Adua's northern home region published a separate advertorial in several newspapers saying the constitution must be respected should he be unable to continue in office.

'Unpatriotic'

The PDP, which has accused the opposition of deliberately generating "hype and tension", criticised the resignation calls.

"Those who are calling for the president's resignation are unpatriotic. Resignation is a voluntary thing and the president should not be coerced," the party's legal adviser, Olusola Oke, was quoted by the Vanguard as saying.

The Action Congress opposition party on Tuesday said there was nothing wrong with public debate about Yar'Adua's health.

"Over a year ago, we advised the government to be more forthcoming on the issue of the president's health, in order to stem the wild rumours over it," AC spokesperson Lai Mohammed said.

"Unfortunately that advice was not heeded until the issue became critical this time."

The statement published in the newspapers said Yar'Adua should either resign immediately or request the cabinet pass a resolution stating that he appears incapable of discharging the functions of his office.

Under the constitution, the Senate president would then appoint a medical panel including Yar'Adua's personal physician to determine his fitness.

Vice President Jonathan would take over if the president resigns or becomes permanently incapable of discharging his functions, according to the constitution.

Jonathan's office on Saturday issued a statement urging "all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to give support to the President Yar'Adua administration" and repeating that there was no cause for alarm over his health.

- Reuters