May 4, 2010
Saharareporters has confirmed the death late today (Nigerian time) of Umaru Yar’adua who was imposed as Nigeria’s ruler after the fraudulent elections of April 21, 2007. Yar’adua, who was born on August 16, 1951, was aged 59. Our impeccable sources within the Presidency revealed that Yar’adua’s aides have briefed acting “President” Goodluck Jonathan on the former ruler’s transition.Mr. Yar’adua has had a history of serious mental and physical health troubles for many years. During his time as governor of Katsina from 1999 to 2007, he was hospitalized for several months in a German hospital for kidney-related disease.
During his term as “president,” Mr. Yar’adua was flown abroad several times on sneaky hospital trips that were often cloaked as official trips or hajj. However, Saharareporters exposed the lies and chronicled the deceased ruler’s health woes. Saharareporters had long disclosed that Yar’adua suffered from Churg Strauss syndrome.
Mr. Yar’adua will be buried tomorrow in accordance with Islamic rites. Mr. Jonathan will also be sworn in shortly as president to serve out the remainder of Yar’adua’s term.
Yar’adua’s death closes the chapter on what a Nigerian politician described as “one of the most absurd political theaters in Nigeria’s history.” The absurd drama began last November after Yar’adua was flown to a hospital in Saudi Arabia to undergo treatment for what his personal physician called “acute pericarditis.” In reaction to calls for Yar’adua to hand over power, even temporarily, to his deputy, his politically ambitious and greedy wife, Turai, as well as a cabal around him began to weave tales to the effect that the hospitalized ruler was quite capable of retaining office and offering robust leadership.
In the pre-dawn hours of February 23, Turai and her associates repatriated a still terribly sick Yar’adua back to Nigeria in a high-stake’s bid to retain the reins of power that were slipping from her husband after Nigeria’s National Assembly asked Vice President Jonathan to step in as “acting President”. In order to facilitate the secret return of a bed-ridden Yar’adua to Nigeria, a renegade faction of the Nigerian military secured areas of Abuja, including the international airport.
In interviews this evening with political activists in Nigeria and abroad, there was a consensus that Turai Yar’adua deserves to be arrested and tried for nearly precipitating a political crisis in the country. “The woman’s greed for corrupt enrichment could have brought Nigeria to chaos,” said one of the respondents.
Some of those interviewed also flayed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for imposing a man he knew was sickly on the country.
Saharareporters will bring you updates as they become available.
Official announcement by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan:
President Umaru Musa passes away
President Umaru Musa Yar’adua is dead. He passed away on Wednesday night in the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.
The Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, received news of the passage of President Yar’adua with great shock and sadness.
According to him, “Nigeria has lost the jewel on its crown, and even the heavens mourn with our nation tonight”
Dr. Jonathan described the death of the president as sad, unfortunate and regrettable. “As individuals and as a nation we prayed for the recovery of Mr. President. But we take solace in the fact that the Almighty is the giver and taker of all life”.
Dr. Jonathan offered heartfelt condolences to President Yar’adua’s widow, Hajiya Turai Yar’adua, the entire Yar’adua family, the people of Katsina State, and Nigerians both at home and the world over.
As a mark of respect for our departed leader, the Acting President has cancelled all official engagements. He has also declared a national mourning for seven days. During this period, the Nigerian flag will fly at half mast.
The remains of the President would be laid to rest in Katsina on Thursday, 6th May, 2010, at 2pm. Nigerians are to observe the day as a work free day.
Ima Niboro
SSA Media and Publicity to the Acting President
5th May, 2010.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });