Date Published: 11/25/09

Rumor of President Yar'Adua's death spread in Nigeria

…Presidency Jittery

…The President is Alive 

Ailing Nigeria’s President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua

Like wild fire, rumors have spread in Nigeria that the ailing Nigerian President, Mr. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has died in a Saudi Arabian Hospital.

But several sources spoken to by Pointblanknews.com dismissed the rumor as untrue and a handiwork of mischievous politicians. A source in Saudi Arabia who was just returning from seeing the President told Pointblanknews.com over the phone “you know how Nigerians are; they can spread all kinds of rumor. Mr. President is not dead, I just saw Mr. President now and he is responding to Doctors care.

Asked how long the President would be at the Hospital and what the name of the hospital is, he said “I cannot tell, you ask the Doctors.”

Other Sources have confirmed to Pointblanknews.com that the President might be at the Jeddah hospital longer than expected based on Doctors recommendation.

The President was yesterday admitted to a Saudi hospital immediately after he arrived the holy land according to reports monitored; a Saudi doctor was quoted as saying "the Nigerian president is undergoing medical tests at a hospital in the western seaport city of Jeddah." 

The doctor who did not disclose the name of the hospital said Mr. Yar'Adua was admitted yesterday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. He also declined to give more details on the president's health.

But this morning, Nigerians woke up with rumors that the President has died.

Pointblanknews.com contacted several government sources within and outside the Aso Rock presidential Villa and none could confirm the rumor to be true. Sources in Saudi Arabia who are privy to the president’s medical condition dispel the rumor as untrue.

President Yar'Adua has been diagnosed with Churg Straus Syndrome, an inflammations of the Blood vessel, a Kidney problem and yet to be confirmed Pulmonary Fibrosis for which he has at various times visited Saudi Arabia and Germany for treatments.