The Senate President, David Mark, yesterday in Abuja called on Nigerians to offer prayers for the President, Umaru Yar’Adua.
Mr. Mark made the call during a morning tea session with members of the St. Mulumba Chapel, Apo quarters, Abuja. According to him, this was a sober moment when all Nigerians should engage in prayers for their president and he asked members of the Apo Chaplaincy to embark on a Novena prayer (Nine days of public prayer) for the quick recovery of Mr. Yar’Adua.
He also urged all Nigerians, whatever their religion, to pray for the president’s quick recovery rather than allow idle talkers to seize the moment and peddle rumours.
Fears and rumours had enveloped the nation on Wednesday over the state of Mr. Yar’Adua’s health in the wake of his third trip in four months to treat an ailment which was then undisclosed.
It will be recalled that on August 14th this year, Mr. Yar’Adua made a two-week trip to Germany, and about five weeks later, on September 22, he made another trip to Saudi Arabia. . He was billed to attend the United Nations’ General Assembly meeting in New York at the same time, but he was represented at the meeting by the minister of foreign affairs, Ojo Maduekwe.
However, during his recent journey when speculations grew rife over the president’s health, the special adviser to the President on Publicity, Segun Adeniyi, finally told reporters the truth. He quoted the president’s chief physician, Salihu Banye, who explained that the president had acute pericarditis, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).
According to Mr. Mark, “The decision of President Yar’Adua to make his health status public is borne out of patriotism and transparency, he is therefore deserving of commendation as well as the prayers of all well-meaning Nigerians.”
In constant touch
The senate president said he has been in constant touch with the presidential team in Saudi Arabia and that from the information available to him, Mr. Yar’Adua is responding to treatment.
“Since the President left for Saudi Arabia for medical check-up, the organs of government has remained intact and functional” he said.
“Ignore these architects of division and phantom speculations. We should concentrate on those things that can further strengthen our democracy and uplift the standard of life of the ordinary man” he said.