Yar’Adua: Return or Quit, Say Angry Nigerians
Bimi
Nigerians Demand Action: Yar’Adua Must Return or Resign
As political tension deepens in Nigeria, up to one million citizens are expected to sign a powerful online petition demanding that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua either return to office or resign.
The petition—“President Yar’Adua Should Return or Quit”—is spearheaded by the respected Nigerian newspaper NEXT, and it’s spreading rapidly across cyberspace.
Court Declares Jonathan Can Act as President
On Wednesday, Chief Judge Justice Dan Abutu ruled in Abuja that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan could lawfully carry out all presidential duties without a formal handover of power.
Former Attorney General and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Richard Akinjide, called the judgment “excellent” and urged the nation to rally behind Jonathan.
But Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, remains on edge. With Yar’Adua’s continued absence, religious and regional tensions are rising. Jonathan is from the Christian South. Yar’Adua hails from the predominantly Muslim North.
The Mysterious BBC Interview
To everyone’s surprise, a voice claiming to be President Yar’Adua gave a phone interview to the BBC on Monday, January 11th. He said he was receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia and hoped to resume his duties soon.
However, the interview raised more questions than it answered.
Local media had already reported that the president was either brain-damaged or brain-dead. Leading the charge was NEXT, published by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede. They claimed authoritatively that Yar’Adua was incapacitated.
So why speak to foreign media instead of Nigerian press? Why avoid visual confirmation?
BBC Nigeria Director Bilkisu Labaran Ohyoma insisted the interview was genuine. It was conducted by Mansur Liman in both English and Hausa. Still, many Nigerians aren’t convinced it was truly their president speaking.
“Enough is Enough!” – The Protest That Shook Abuja
On Tuesday, 10,000 protesters stormed the streets of Abuja, demanding accountability.
Led by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, they chanted “Enough is Enough!” and refused to meet with House Speaker Dimeji Bankole. The protest, unusually well-supported and orderly, was accompanied by cheering police officers.
The BBC interview did little to stop the march. Many believe it was staged to distract from the planned demonstration.
52 Days of Silence
President Yar’Adua was flown out of Nigeria under tight security on November 24th. For over 52 days, there was no verified word from him—until the BBC call.
During this time, the country was awash with speculation and fear. Reports claimed he was in a coma, then on life support. Some even said he was dead.
On Monday, The American Chronicle reported that Yar’Adua had died on January 10th at 3:30 p.m. in Jeddah. Strangely, the story was later taken down without explanation.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome: A Silent Killer?
Yar’Adua suffers from Churg-Strauss Syndrome, a rare illness that begins as severe asthma but quickly affects major organs including the heart and kidneys.
He has faced health challenges since taking office on May 29, 2007. Rumors of his death have circulated more than once.
Since his latest disappearance, only a handful of trusted aides—led by First Lady Turai Yar’Adua—have had access to him. This has fueled rumors of a palace coup, secrecy, and a nation in the dark.
Will Nigeria Break in 2010?
Some international analysts predicted that Nigeria would split in 2010 due to ethnic and political tensions. But many Nigerians reject this doomsday outlook.
They argue that the country has faced worse storms and survived.
Nigeria at a Crossroads
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Nigerians want transparency and leadership. Whether or not the BBC voice was truly Yar’Adua’s, the demand remains:
Return, or Quit.
🔗 Sign the Petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/yaraduainoffice
💬 Join the Debate: Was it really the president? Share your views below.
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