President Musa Yar'Adua

Fears have heightened over the health of President Musa Yar’Adua with speculations that the Nigerian President may have developed a neuro-psychological complication to his earlier diagnosed Churg Strauss Syndrome, an inflammation of the blood vessel. And no one in the Presidency is willing to admit or deny the speculation.

He is expected back in Nigeria this Friday but medical team at the Presidency led by one Dr. Obeya has in the interim concluded that he may not yet have the full mental capability to continue to discharge his Presidential duties. The president is expected to be under close watch upon his return to Nigeria.

President Yar’Adua whose ailment had hitherto been kept under wraps was rushed to the German hospital with swollen skin on April 14 and was diagnosed with Churg Strauss Syndrome, an inflammation of the blood vessel.

Goodluck Jonathan

Sources at the German Hospital where President Yar’Adua has been receiving treatment told Pointblanknews.com that that they are seriously disturbed that Nigerian officials are insisting that President Yar’Adua be discharged and allowed to return back to Nigeria in spite his worsening health. The current state of the President according to the source may be a reaction to the treatment he is receiving for his ailment. An official at the Hospital who would not want to be named said that he could not give details of the medical records “of a high profile personality such as the President of a country without any clearance.”

Almost every key functionary of the Yar’Adua Government made deliberate attempt to avoid talking to the media.

A key intelligence operative in the Presidency, competent enough o know, declined comment to pointblanknews.com, while neither denying nor confirming anything, that he had “no clearance to comment on this so called development. The Chief Spokesman to the State Security Services, SSS, Mallam Ado Muazu, would not pick up his call while the Senior Special Adviser on Aviation, Captain Shehu Ilya would not want to take any question but would prefer a call back. Several calls put across to him were not answered.

Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Segun Adeniyi was totally unreachable as he did not pick several calls.

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Even as the President’s state of health remains unclear, there are emerging details that a serious power tussle that could, as usual, precipitate a major constitutional crisis may be brewing. At issue: Northern elders have started subterranean maneuvers to lay constitutional provision aside so that the North could be allowed to complete its four year term under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP rotational Presidency arrangement. The rotational arrangement became a strong factor in contemporary Nigerian politics because of tenacious hold to power by Northern political elites: The June 12, 1993 Presidential upheaval was another reason for its introduction.

But the constitution minces no word as to the hierarchy of succession if the President becomes incapacitated and even in the case of death. The 1999 constitution and other relevant status provides for the Vice President to automatically become the president.

According to Section 146 sub section 1 “The Vice-President shall hold the office of the President if the office of the President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or the removal of the President from office for any other reason in accordance with section 143 or 144 of this constitution.”