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Nigeria's leader breaks silence Nigeria's leader breaks silence
(about 1 hour later)
Nigeria's president, not seen in public since going into hospital in Saudi Arabia for heart treatment in November, has told the BBC he is recovering.Nigeria's president, not seen in public since going into hospital in Saudi Arabia for heart treatment in November, has told the BBC he is recovering.
In his first interview since then, by telephone, Umaru Yar'Adua said he hoped to make "tremendous progress" and return home to resume his duties.In his first interview since then, by telephone, Umaru Yar'Adua said he hoped to make "tremendous progress" and return home to resume his duties.
His long absence and speculation over his health has led to calls for him to hand over power to his vice-president. His long absence and speculation over his health have led to calls for him to hand over power to his vice-president.
The opposition plans a rally to demand details on the president's health. The opposition plans a rally to demand details of the president's health.
Doctors said in December that President Yar'Adua was suffering from acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart. Rumours the president was critically ill and unable to return to the presidency have been swirling around Nigeria.
He is also known to have kidney problems. His adviser Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi told the BBC the president's enemies were behind the rumours.
Doctors said in December that President Yar'Adua was suffering from acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart. He is also known to have kidney problems.
Constitutional worriesConstitutional worries
Speaking by telephone to the BBC, Mr Yar'Adua said he was making a good recovery. Speaking by telephone to the BBC in an interview organised by the president's office, Mr Yar'Adua said he was making a good recovery.
"At the moment I am undergoing treatment, and I'm getting better from the treatment. I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home," he said."At the moment I am undergoing treatment, and I'm getting better from the treatment. I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home," he said.
"I wish, at this stage, to thank all Nigerians for their prayers for my good health, and for their prayers for the nation.""I wish, at this stage, to thank all Nigerians for their prayers for my good health, and for their prayers for the nation."
Rumours had been rife that he was critically ill and unable to return to the presidency. An adviser to the president, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, told the BBC enemies of the president were behind the rumours. He also wished the Nigerian national football team success in the Africa Cup of Nations currently under way in Angola.
President Yar'Adua's silence until now and the fact he did not appoint Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to serve in his absence has led to fears of a constitutional crisis. The BBC's correspondent in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, said the president's voice had sounded weak.
There are three different court cases under way calling for power to be transferred to Mr Jonathan. President Yar'Adua's silence until now and the fact he did not appoint Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to serve in his absence have led to fears of a constitutional crisis.
There is a perceived danger of a power vacuum in a country that only saw the end of military rule just over 10 years ago, the BBC's Will Ross reports from the capital, Abuja.There is a perceived danger of a power vacuum in a country that only saw the end of military rule just over 10 years ago, the BBC's Will Ross reports from the capital, Abuja.
There have also been complaints that important government business has been left hanging in the president's absence.
'Enough Is Enough'
Many Nigerians will be relieved to hear the president's voice, says our correspondent, but calls to hand over power to the vice-president will continue.Many Nigerians will be relieved to hear the president's voice, says our correspondent, but calls to hand over power to the vice-president will continue.
Under the banner Enough Is Enough, an organisation called the Save Nigeria Group called people on to the streets of Abuja. UMARU YAR'ADUA Born in 1951 in the northern Muslim state of KatsinaSelf-confessed Marxist as an undergraduateBecame a chemistry teacher after university Married twice, has nine children Governor of Katsina from 1999 to 2007During his governorship Katsina adopted Sharia lawNicknamed "Baba-go-slow" since becoming president in 2007High point of his presidency so far - the amnesty for oil militantsHas suffered from a chronic kidney condition for at least 10 years class="" href="/2/hi/africa/6187249.stm">Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua
There are three different court cases under way calling for power to be transferred to Mr Jonathan.
Under the banner Enough Is Enough, an organisation called the Save Nigeria Group has called people on to the streets of Abuja.
The opposition plan is to march to the national assembly where senators are expected to be discussing the president's health.The opposition plan is to march to the national assembly where senators are expected to be discussing the president's health.
Prominent opposition politicians and lawyers, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and the Biafran secessionist leader, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, will be among the demonstrators.Prominent opposition politicians and lawyers, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and the Biafran secessionist leader, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, will be among the demonstrators.
It is not clear if the demonstration will be well attended, our correspondent says.It is not clear if the demonstration will be well attended, our correspondent says.
Nigerians may be worried about their absent president but whether they will take time off to demonstrate is another matter, he adds.Nigerians may be worried about their absent president but whether they will take time off to demonstrate is another matter, he adds.