Saharareporters has learned that doctors handling Yar’adua’s case have put off his return to Nigeria indefinitely after it was discovered that his kidneys and pancreatic functions had diminished considerably. Our source, who spoke to a family member, disclosed that the most recent prognosis pertaining to Yar’adua’s kidneys was described as “dreadful.”
The source specifically stated that the functioning of Yar’adua’s kidneys has been the lowest since he was diagnosed with Churg Strauss disease in 2007 by a medical team in Germany. The source disclosed that the bed-ridden ruler now faces the certain prospect of prolonged – if not indefinite – hospitalization.
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The new grim turn in Yar’adua’s condition was also reflected in the somber tone of a statement issued in Abuja today by the federal executive council after its weekly meeting.
“We’re in the dark about how Mr. President is doing,” a minister told Saharareporters this evening. “Everybody is engaged in a guessing game,” he added in response to a question by our reporter as to whether the ministers were aware of the latest decline in Yar’adua’s condition.
In a sharp departure from the brash tone of last week when the council told Nigerians that the bed-ridden Yar’adua was still capable of running the country, today’s statement by the exco admitted for the first time that the cabinet has no clue when the sickly Nigerian leader would return to the seat of power.
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Nigeria’s Information Minister Dora Akunyili, who briefed the press after today’s federal executive council, said only Yar’adua doctors could determine for sure if and when he would be able to return to Abuja. Saudi local news sources monitored by The Nation newspaper in Kenya yesterday reported that Yar’adua might be moved to the US or Germany. But our source said the US was the most likely transfer location. Yar’adua’s son-in-law, Governor Isah Yuguda, and daughter are already in the US where his daughter will give birth.
Even so, Yar’adua is currently in no shape to undergo a long flight to the US, according to our source. “May be if the experts assembled in Jeddah manage to stabilize him, then he would be flown to another country with better facilities and team of medical experts,” said the source.
A source said Governor Yuguda traveled today to another city in the US, possibly in preparation for Yar’adua's transfer to the US.
Mrs. Akunyili’s subdued submission today put paid to frequent propaganda by Yar’adua’s cohorts that he would be returning soon. Today’s statement by the federal executive council also squelched a promise by the office of “Vice President” Jonathan Goodluck that Yar’adua would speak by telecast at the opening session of the National Economic Summit later in the week. No mention was made of the planned telecast today.
Meanwhile, several sources in Abuja told Saharareporters that the government was gradually grounding to a halt as Goodluck Jonathan continues to face stiff resistance by Yar’adua’s kitchen cabinet member and the ailing ruler’s ambitious wife. Both Turai and other fanatical loyalists of Yar’adua have so far blocked a lawful transfer of power to Jonathan.
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