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NaijaGist Nigeria

This blog is about my views on Nigeria, the world, and technology.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Yar Adua's health or absence should not be a big issue, but in Nigeria it is

How has the absence of a President on medical treatment become a big issue in Nigeria? In other countries medical treatment by a president does not generate much controversy. It became a big issue because president Yar Adua refused to do what he was supposed to do before leaving the country. What would it have cost the President to properly handover to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan before the travel?

This omission by President Yar Adua and his silence over his health status almost plunged Nigeria into chaos by creating opportunity for mischief makers to take advantage of the situation. It took a phony media report that the President is dead for him to break the silence.

The whole episode shows the kind of relationship between Mr. President and Mr. Vice President. If the President had trust and respect for his Vice, he would have handed over properly to him. This is what happens in an "arrangee" presidential ticket, where two people are forced to work together whether they like it or not. This also goes to show that President Yar Adua feels insecure and is no different from his predecessor Obasanjo.

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