Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has
died, royal officials have announced, weeks after he was admitted to
hospital.King Abdullah, who was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection.
A statement early on Friday said his 79-year-old half brother, Salman, had become king.
Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.
The official announcement from the Royal Court came as little surprise, but this is still a historic and sad moment for this deeply conservative Muslim country, home to the two holiest sites in Islam, at Mecca and Medina, and the world's biggest oil exporter and producer.
King Salman assumes the throne at a difficult time for Saudi Arabia. Having defeated an Islamist insurgency 10 years ago, the country now finds itself sandwiched between the growing threats from al-Qaeda in Yemen to the south and Islamic State to the north. Both groups have their sympathisers inside Saudi Arabia.
The late king's half brother Muqrin, who is in his late 60s, has been named the new crown prince, the official statement said.
(culled: BBC NEWS)
Sad! May his soul rest in peace.
well what does his demise means for Nigeria vis avis the Nigerian's economy... he had supported an oil glut in the world oil market.. even when their budget oil price benchmark is $80 per barrel as the of the second largest supplier of crude oil... he hand twisted OPEC by supporting excessive crude oil supply thereby forcing the bitter pill of crashing oil price down the throat of Nigeria and other Opec members all in the name that; we don't want to loose our market share...he also allowed price to drop thinking that ...at a much reduced price will consequently make the extraction of crude oil from shale in Texas very expensive... even when members of the royal does not support this policy... the incoming king is a 79 years old brother of the immediate past king, he has a very good records with his doctor as a regular visitor to hospital in health related issues and also vehemently supports his brother in his selfish economic policy.. I do not really see much happening in favour of Nigeria by virtue of his death... though there might certainly be a slit change....countries like Iraq is already giving post dated cheques to suppliers of arms and ammunitions... ISIS is taking their land just as Boko is working on the north east Nigeria....lol sorry I got carried away as an economist no vex ooo! wetin I dey talk be say Aziz and adbullah na d same thing them be.. the death of adbullah nor go help naija well well sha small change fit dey..
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