The rumour spread across Nigeria Wednesday, with many using text messaging and phone calls to push the news of the President's 'death'.
President Yar'Adua, who has been battling with a kidney-related disease since assuming office in 2007, left for Saudi Arabia Monday for a medical check-up, the latest in a series of medical trips abroad.
The local media immediately played up the story, reporting that the President has been admitted at a high-brow medical facility in Saudi Arabia.
But presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said his boss was alright and slammed those behind the death rumours.
'I cannot legislate against rumours so I am not here to talk about that,' he said during a visit to his former employer, Thisday newspaper, Wednesday.
''I think the daily pre-occupation of some people is to kill the President in their imagination and if that makes them happy so be it... I am tired of responding to what has become a common pastime of some idle politicians... maybe when the President comes back I will ask him how he keeps dying and resurrecting everyday. The whole thing is ridiculous!'
Also helping to assure Nigerians that their President is alive are the Federal Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Nigeria's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
The Ambassador, Alhaji A. Aminchi, sent a text message to local media organisations to assure them that the President was fine.
The local press Thursday quoted the Ambassador as saying President Yar'Adua was healthy enough to join other Muslims for the Wuquf Arafat (standing at Arafat), which marks the climax of the annual hajj rites.
On his part, the office of Justice Minister Micheal Aondoakaa (SAN) issued a statement saying the President was hale and hearty, and that the Minister was in constant touch with the President.
"We have received with great shock and dismay the rumours making the rounds about the state of health of Mr. President and wish to state that the President has gone to Saudi Arabia for routine medical check," the statement said.
'What we need in Nigeria today is to be focused and wish the President well... He is due back in the country as soon as he completes his medical check up and short vacation, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' it added.
Lagos - 26/11/2009
Pana
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