The hospitalization of Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’adua in a Saudi Arabia hospital for acute pericarditis has given rise to various newspaper reports and speculations on his health and succession rules in case he is unable to continue in office.
Nigeria’s Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, who had to clear the air on the state of health of Yar’adua, has another explanation to make on claims that he is under pressure to resign.
Reacting to the newspaper report on Saturday in Abuja, Jonathan described it as “falsehood and mischievous’’.
He said that the report published by a national newspaper on Saturday was designed to create unnecessary panic and tension in Nigeria.
The Saturday Punch newspaper had reported that “the plan of those pressuring the VP is to create a situation where he would resign for the Senate President David Mark to take over for three months and then organize elections in the event that the President is unable to complete his term.’’
Jonathan, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Communication, Mr Ima Niboro, urged Nigerians to discountenance the report.
“We have read with considerable dismay, the story of The Punch, published today, Nov. 28 and wish to point out straightaway that it is false in its entirety.
“This story, we must add, is sheer mischief and dwells entirely in the imagination of its authors, their sponsors and co-travelers.
Vice- President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is not under any pressure to resign,” he said.
The statement urged “all well meaning Nigerians to continue to give support to the President Yar’ Adua administration.”
“As the Vice-President noted yesterday (Friday), and was widely reported in the media, the president is okay, and there is no cause for alarm,’’ the statement said.
Source African Press Agency
