Nigeria: Still No Word On Yar’Adua’s Health

Nigerians are still unsure about the state of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health more than three months since he was last seen in public.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan chaired a cabinet meeting Wednesday in his capacity as acting president, but the cabinet did provide any briefing about the president’s condition afterwards.

President Yar'Adua returned to Nigeria last week after spending three months in Saudi Arabia on treatment for a serious heart ailment.

On February 9, Nigeria’s parliament empowered Jonathan to exercise presidential duties in an acting capacity to ease national tension surrounding Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence.

The president’s unannounced return before dawn last Wednesday has reignited uncertainty, and there have been reports of a squabbling between the Yar’Adua and Jonathan camps. Since then, President Yar’Adua has not appeared in public and not even the vice president has gained access to him.[PE]