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Yar’adua’s resumption of work a hoax

March 21, 2010

A medical source familiar with Umaru Yar’adua’s dire health condition has told Saharareporters that the syndicated media reports claiming that Yar’adua would resume work next week “is a complete hoax.”

A medical source familiar with Umaru Yar’adua’s dire health condition has told Saharareporters that the syndicated media reports claiming that Yar’adua would resume work next week “is a complete hoax.”
The reports, which were carried by Daily Trust and The Nation newspapers, painted a generous portrait of Yar’adua’s supposed recuperation and his alleged plans to return to work next week. The Daily Trust report made ridiculous claims that Yar’adua had regained strength and was walking around in the gardens surrounding the presidential villa.

“It’s bunkum,” said our source.

Other politically connected sources in Abuja told Saharareporters that Yar’adua’s condition was so bad that even members of the kitchen cabinet, including Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, have given up hopes of his return. Mr. Tanimu Kurfi, who served as Yar’adua’s chief economic advisor, spent last weekend in Kaduna. An associate who spoke to him described his mood as “downcast,” adding that Kurfi had come to terms with the fact “that his days of influence as a member of Yar’adua’s inner circle are over.”

Yar’adua’s mother and other relatives have called on his wife, Turai, to let him return to Katsina to recuperate as much as it is possible. A source close to Yar’adua’s relatives told Saharareporters that Umaru Yar’adua’s mother was furious that Turai has resisted all entreaties “to let Yar’adua make a dignified exit from power.”

A highly placed security source told Saharareporters that the latest hoax about Yar’adua’s return was part of a scheme by Turai and other die-hard loyalists of Yar’adua to force more concessions from acting President Goodluck Jonathan as he reconstitutes the federal cabinet. Mr. Jonathan dissolved the cabinet last week and is in the process of lining up a new cabinet.

“Turai and her group want to have a larger say about who gets appointed into the cabinet,” said a source. “They want to ensure that, whatever happens, their interests remain protected, if not paramount,” the source added.

As Saharareporters earlier reported, Jonathan had offered Mrs. Yar’adua the opportunity to nominate candidates for five ministerial slots as well as a special assistant position. Unsatisfied, the greedy “First Lady” has reportedly demanded that she receive 10 ministerial positions. In addition, she is also insisting that she and her group be allowed to choose who occupies some of the juiciest ministerial positions. She has also insisted that former Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili, should not be on the list of new ministers.

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