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Nigeria's leader breaks silence Nigeria's leader breaks silence
(20 minutes 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, 58, 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, 58, said he hoped to make "tremendous progress" and return home to resume his duties.
His long absence and speculation over his health have 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 of the president's health. The opposition has been demanding details of the president's health.
Rumours the president was critically ill and unable to return to the presidency have been swirling around Nigeria. Rumours that the president was critically ill and unable to return to the presidency have been swirling around Nigeria.
His adviser Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi told the BBC the president's enemies were behind the rumours.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.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 in an interview organised by the president's office, 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 told Mansur Liman from the BBC Hausa service, speaking in both Hausa and English."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 told Mansur Liman from the BBC Hausa service, speaking in both Hausa and English.
BBC Hausa has a large audience in northern Nigeria, where Hausa is the main language.BBC Hausa has a large audience in northern Nigeria, where Hausa is the main language.
He gave no indication of when he might return to Nigeria.He gave no indication of when he might return to Nigeria.
"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."
He also wished the Nigerian national football team success in the Africa Cup of Nations currently under way in Angola.He also wished the Nigerian national football team success in the Africa Cup of Nations currently under way in Angola.
The BBC's correspondent in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, said the president's voice had sounded weak.The BBC's correspondent in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, said the president's voice had sounded weak.
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.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.There have also been complaints that important government business has been left hanging in the president's absence.
'Enough Is Enough''Enough Is Enough'
The interview with President Yar'Adua was recorded late on Monday and first broadcast at 0530 GMT on Tuesday. It has been widely rebroadcast by Nigerian TV and radio stations.The interview with President Yar'Adua was recorded late on Monday and first broadcast at 0530 GMT on Tuesday. It has been widely rebroadcast by Nigerian TV and radio stations.
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.
YAR'ADUA ILLNESS TIMELINE 23 November 2009: Goes to hospital in Saudi Arabia26 November 2009: Presidential doctors say he has pericarditis - inflammation of the heart lining23 December 2009: First court case filed called him to step down30 December 2009: Chief justice sworn in. Lawyers say this is illegal in president's absence5 January 2010: Two more court cases filed and a human rights group wants president declared "missing"12 January 2010: President gives first interview since going to Saudi Arabia Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua Nigeria's great rumour millYAR'ADUA ILLNESS TIMELINE 23 November 2009: Goes to hospital in Saudi Arabia26 November 2009: Presidential doctors say he has pericarditis - inflammation of the heart lining23 December 2009: First court case filed called him to step down30 December 2009: Chief justice sworn in. Lawyers say this is illegal in president's absence5 January 2010: Two more court cases filed and a human rights group wants president declared "missing"12 January 2010: President gives first interview since going to Saudi Arabia Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua Nigeria's great rumour mill
Many Nigerians will be relieved to hear the president's voice, says our correspondent, but the calls to hand over power to the vice-president will continue.
There are three different court cases under way calling for power to be transferred to Mr Jonathan, including one from the National Bar Association.There are three different court cases under way calling for power to be transferred to Mr Jonathan, including one from the National Bar Association.
The NBA says it will still press on with its case, despite the evidence that the president is at least well enough to speak. Several hundred people have marched through the streets of Abuja to the national assembly to press for the demand.
Under the banner Enough Is Enough, an organisation called the Save Nigeria Group has called people on to the streets of Abuja. The national assembly was due to discuss the president's health on Tuesday as it reconvenes after the Christmas and New Year break.
They plan to march to the national assembly, where the president's health was due to be discussed as it resumes after the Christmas and New Year break. Dozens of police, including riot police, were deployed ahead of the rally.
Dozens of police, including riot police, have been deployed in Abuja ahead of the rally. Prominent opposition politicians and lawyers, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and the Biafran secessionist leader, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, were planning to 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.
Nigerians may be worried about their absent president but whether they will take time off to demonstrate is another matter, he adds.
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