Yar’Adua Back Next Week- Nigerian Ambassador

As Deputy Senate President Says He Can Be Away For As Long As He Wants

Abuja (THEWILL) - Nigerian President, Umaru Yar’Adua will return to Abuja next week according to Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminchi, while addressing reporters in Makkah, Jeddah on Thursday.

The president has been in a Jeddah hospital receiving treatment for both heart and kidney ailments.

Ambassador Aminchi while thanking Nigerians for their prayers assured reporters that President Yar’Adua’s recuperation is going well and that the doctors may certify him fit to travel next week.

“His Excellency has been attended to by his doctor. He was given a week to recuperate after which he will be examined again and if he is certified fit God willing, he will be back in Nigeria by next week.”

There have been calls for the ailing president’s resignation by a growing number of Nigerians who are miffed by his refusal to transfer power to the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said on Thursday that the President could remain abroad for as long as necessary as there was no provision in the Nigerian Constitution that determines the length of time a president could be away for.

Ekweremadu told officials of the United States Council of Foreign Relations during a meeting that government is still functioning perfectly despite the President’s absence. “ The Constitution did not make provision for how long a president can stay out of the country and then he will lose his job. There is no such provision in our Constitution,” he told reporters.

The Federal Executive Council after its meeting on Wednesday also said it unanimously agreed to back the president and condemned calls for his resignation.

The President was transferred from the ICU facility at the King Faisal Specialist Research Centre on Wednesday to his hospital suite after doctors managed to stabilize him.

Surprisingly despite the uncertainties surrounding his health, the country's financial markets have continued to remain relatively stable. The Nigerian currency is still trading at almost the same value as it was two weeks ago. The bond and equities markets have also been stable.