2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Presidential Candidate Denies Reports

By VOA News
07 March 2007

Umar Yar'adua (December 2006)

The presidential candidate of Nigeria's ruling party says he will return soon from Germany, where he was flown Tuesday for medical treatment.

In an telephone interview Wednesday with VOA's Hausa service, Umar Yar'Adua declined to say what his ailment¹ was. But he added that he will return to Nigeria soon to continue his presidential campaign.

Asked about news reports in Nigeria saying he had died, Mr. Yar'Adua said, "I am talking to you now, do you think I am dead?"

The candidate was taken to a hospital in the German city of Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt, late Tuesday.

Yar'Adua, 56, has suffered from a kidney ailment in the past, which has raised questions about his fitness to be president.

He left Nigeria six weeks before the country's presidential elections. As the nominee² for president from the powerful People's Democratic Party party, Yar'Adua is seen as one of the favorites to win the April election.

A party spokesman says the candidate is undergoing tests not available in Nigeria.

Yar'Adua is currently the governor of Nigeria's northern Katsina state.

The ruling party is trying to keep its hold on power following two terms in office by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The president is constitutionally barred from running for a third term.

1 ailment   

n.疾病，小病

参考例句：

• I don't have even the slightest ailment.我什么毛病也没有。
• He got timely treatment for his ailment.他的病得到了及时治疗。

2 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。