President Umaru Musa YarAdua’s  foot soldiers have been trying to create the impression that the worst is over and that  he has ‘truly  improved’.But the fact that President YarAdua has remained indoors since his return from Saudi Arabia last week continued to elicit concern.And insiders say YarAdua is  still very sick.

His aides have been  regaling Nigerian through what knowledgeable sources called  ‘planted’ stories which tend to say that YarAdua is fast recovering from his illness.One source even claimed that he will resume work in about a month's  time.

But informed insiders said the truth of the situation is that YarAdua is still in a ``very bad shape.'

`` I don’t think they will like anyone to see him the way he looks now.He is really in a bad state’’ a source told newsdiaryonline today

What triggered growing concerns was the statement  by Ima Niboro the senior special adviser, media and publicity to the acting President Goodluck Jonathan. In the statement yesterday, Niboro  denied reports that the acting president has met the president since he returned from Saudi Arabia. Informed politicians were shocked that the president’s handlers were still preventing the acting president from seeing YarAdua.

But those who are versed in the art of statecraft are not really convinced that the acting president has not seen him yet .``I don’t want to believe that he has not met him’’ a senior politician said.But when reminded of the statement from the acting president’s office, he said ``well you know this hide -and- seek game’’.But why would Jonathan deny meeting YarAdua if he has done so.Perhaps in order not to reveal state secret?

However Newsdiaryonline sources have also insisted that the acting president has not seen YarAdua .One official even revealed today that only a very ``personal aide has seen YarAdua since he came back and the aide saw batteries ,wires and several medical equipments around him. All these stories you are reading that he is getting well were planted’’, the source said.

Another insider said  ``at least 14 doctors attend to him 24 hours since he came.They are just spending money and time on him and sadly they are telling us lies about his health.’’The source added that, ``if YarAdua were capable of moving around as his handlers want us to believe ,this desperate cabal would have brought him out.They are just lying.’’A more sympathetic  insider said it is not the man’s fault that he is sick and he really deserves sympathy from all of us, but ''what is bad is the lies we are told about him.period!''

It has also been further revealed that more ministers -just like many Nigerians- are getting angrier with the game of deception that has unfolded so far and the cabinet meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) may be stormy.How Jonathan will handle the affairs remains to be seen .

Nonetheless, many believe that the Executive Council of the Federation’s meeting tomorrow may be a turning point towards the resolution of the crisis.In fact there is the general fear among the YarAdua associates that section 144 may be invoked  and that may be  why Turai, the president’s wife is said to be literally begging senators not to impeach YarAdua if the cabinet rules that he is incapacitated.

Perhaps it is in order to save YarAdua that his  handlers are busy leaking stories which insiders say were deliberately planted to give the impression that his is  getting better.A letter from his personal physician to Jonathan, which many suspect may not contain all the facts of his illness, was published today in The Nation  (see letter  )

(culled from The Nation)