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| Nigerian president returns home | Nigerian president returns home |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has returned home after three months' treatment in Saudi Arabia, officials say, but his condition is unknown. | Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has returned home after three months' treatment in Saudi Arabia, officials say, but his condition is unknown. |
| A plane from Jeddah landed at Abuja airport in the early hours, where an ambulance was waiting on the tarmac. | A plane from Jeddah landed at Abuja airport in the early hours, where an ambulance was waiting on the tarmac. |
| Earlier this month, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan became acting leader as fears mounted of a power vacuum. | Earlier this month, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan became acting leader as fears mounted of a power vacuum. |
| It is not clear if Mr Yar'Adua will go to a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, or if he is well enough to resume duties. | It is not clear if Mr Yar'Adua will go to a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, or if he is well enough to resume duties. |
| ANALYSIS BBC's Caroline Duffield, Abuja For President Yar'Adua's political future, it is critical the people do see him, and soon. | ANALYSIS BBC's Caroline Duffield, Abuja For President Yar'Adua's political future, it is critical the people do see him, and soon. |
| He and his circle have suffered political damage and a massive loss of trust, within the country, within parliament, within their own party. | He and his circle have suffered political damage and a massive loss of trust, within the country, within parliament, within their own party. |
| In his absence, many senior cabinet ministers - including the information minister and the foreign minister - were locked out of decision making. | In his absence, many senior cabinet ministers - including the information minister and the foreign minister - were locked out of decision making. |
| It created an atmosphere in which people were uncertain whether the president was even alive. | It created an atmosphere in which people were uncertain whether the president was even alive. |
| Mr Yar'Adua's allies will want executive powers transferred back to him, but there are cabinet splits. | Mr Yar'Adua's allies will want executive powers transferred back to him, but there are cabinet splits. |
| Acting President Goodluck Jonathan's supporters have been manoeuvring to try to formalise his position. | Acting President Goodluck Jonathan's supporters have been manoeuvring to try to formalise his position. |
| The prize - control of Nigeria's oil wealth - is immense. | The prize - control of Nigeria's oil wealth - is immense. |
| If the 58-year-old leader - who has been getting treatment for heart and kidney problems - does not appear, questions will be asked as to whether he is fit to govern. | |
| Analysts say there has been considerable jostling for power behind the scenes as politicians look ahead to elections due by April next year. | Analysts say there has been considerable jostling for power behind the scenes as politicians look ahead to elections due by April next year. |
| The BBC's Ahmed Idris says two planes arrived amid tight security at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 0200 local time (0100 GMT). | The BBC's Ahmed Idris says two planes arrived amid tight security at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 0200 local time (0100 GMT). |
| Although there has been no official confirmation of Mr Yar'Adua's return, two cabinet ministers told our correspondent the president was on board one of the jets. | Although there has been no official confirmation of Mr Yar'Adua's return, two cabinet ministers told our correspondent the president was on board one of the jets. |
| And Nigerian Senator Abubakar Umar Gada told the BBC's World Today: "I can confirm from credible sources the president is back. I think Nigerians will be happy to have their president back in a good shape." | And Nigerian Senator Abubakar Umar Gada told the BBC's World Today: "I can confirm from credible sources the president is back. I think Nigerians will be happy to have their president back in a good shape." |
| Presidential adviser Emmanuel Egbogah told Reuters news agency Mr Yar'Adua was back, but it was "doubtful" he would resume office immediately. | Presidential adviser Emmanuel Egbogah told Reuters news agency Mr Yar'Adua was back, but it was "doubtful" he would resume office immediately. |
| Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Aminchi, told AFP news agency Mr Yar'Adua had returned home and his condition had "improved tremendously". | Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Aminchi, told AFP news agency Mr Yar'Adua had returned home and his condition had "improved tremendously". |
| Not seen in public | Not seen in public |
| Our correspondent says everyone except presidential officials was kept out of the airport. | Our correspondent says everyone except presidential officials was kept out of the airport. |
| He followed the official convoy the 40km (25 miles) into central Abuja and says there was a military presence every 300m on the route, which became more stringent towards the city centre. | He followed the official convoy the 40km (25 miles) into central Abuja and says there was a military presence every 300m on the route, which became more stringent towards the city centre. |
| There seems to be on his part or on the part of the people around him the consciousness that power is slipping away from them and they want it back Sonala OlumhenseNigeria's Guardian newspaper Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua href="/2/hi/africa/8533743.stm">Q&A: Nigeria political crisis class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8530372.stm">Suffering and cursing in Nigeria | |
| He was flown to Jeddah after falling ill last November to be treated for pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane protecting the heart. | He was flown to Jeddah after falling ill last November to be treated for pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane protecting the heart. |
| The president has not been seen in public since then and there has been no official report on his health condition. | The president has not been seen in public since then and there has been no official report on his health condition. |
| Just on Monday, a delegation of Nigerian ministers had travelled to Saudi Arabia, apparently for an update on Mr Yar'Adua's health. | Just on Monday, a delegation of Nigerian ministers had travelled to Saudi Arabia, apparently for an update on Mr Yar'Adua's health. |
| The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Abuja says in theory he is able to take up the reins of power once more by writing a letter to the National Assembly and telling them he has returned, although it is understood that no such letter has been received. | The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Abuja says in theory he is able to take up the reins of power once more by writing a letter to the National Assembly and telling them he has returned, although it is understood that no such letter has been received. |
| She says that in his absence, Nigeria's political elite has been consumed by a power struggle between Yar'Adua loyalists, who wished to keep him in power, and those who argued he was too ill to govern. | She says that in his absence, Nigeria's political elite has been consumed by a power struggle between Yar'Adua loyalists, who wished to keep him in power, and those who argued he was too ill to govern. |
| 'Cabinet splits' | 'Cabinet splits' |
| Ever since the installation of the vice-president, there have been reports of splits in the cabinet and stories that the president's allies were determined to bring him home, our correspondent adds. | Ever since the installation of the vice-president, there have been reports of splits in the cabinet and stories that the president's allies were determined to bring him home, our correspondent adds. |
| Politically, she says everything depends on whether Mr Yar'Adua is fit enough to govern Africa's most populous nation, with 150 million people. | Politically, she says everything depends on whether Mr Yar'Adua is fit enough to govern Africa's most populous nation, with 150 million people. |
| Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has adopted the mantle of power | Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has adopted the mantle of power |
| Sonala Olumhense, a columnist with Nigeria's Guardian newspaper, told the BBC's Network Africa programme Mr Yar'Adua's return was a big surprise. | Sonala Olumhense, a columnist with Nigeria's Guardian newspaper, told the BBC's Network Africa programme Mr Yar'Adua's return was a big surprise. |
| "In the past week or so we have been told that the acting president will now take the country in a new direction, give this country new energy," he said. | "In the past week or so we have been told that the acting president will now take the country in a new direction, give this country new energy," he said. |
| "And suddenly the president himself turns up. If he's anywhere near capacity, and I would think capacity for him would be about 50-60%, I think he would want to get back to work right away. | "And suddenly the president himself turns up. If he's anywhere near capacity, and I would think capacity for him would be about 50-60%, I think he would want to get back to work right away. |
| "There seems to be on his part or on the part of the people around him the consciousness that power is slipping away from them and they want it back." | "There seems to be on his part or on the part of the people around him the consciousness that power is slipping away from them and they want it back." |
| In Mr Yar'Adua's absence, acting President Jonathan has been reshuffling ministers, pledging to tackle power shortages and forging ahead with an amnesty for militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta. | In Mr Yar'Adua's absence, acting President Jonathan has been reshuffling ministers, pledging to tackle power shortages and forging ahead with an amnesty for militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta. |
| The amnesty was seen as Mr Yar'Adua's major achievement since coming to power in 2007 but it had been jeopardised by his absence. | The amnesty was seen as Mr Yar'Adua's major achievement since coming to power in 2007 but it had been jeopardised by his absence. |