Nigeria Faces Political Uncertainty
Nigeria is going through a tough political transition. The president has been absent from office since November due to health problems, and the vice-president took over. But the interim leader is challenged by those who question the legality of his decisions.<br /><br />Nigeria continues to face political uncertainty due to the ongoing absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua from office. Yar'Adua has not formally transferred power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, triggering debate over the legality of government decisions.<br /><br />[..]<br /><br />Yar'Adua has been in the Saudi Arabia port of Jeddah since November receiving treatment for a heart condition. On Wednesday, the government asked the president to give a formal notice on his health condition. And they also said that he was fit to return to his duties. <br /><br />According to the Nigerian constitution, if the president is unable to perform the duties or goes on vacation, then the vice-president takes over until the president returns. <br /><br />But the political allies of Yar’Adua are reluctant to have Jonathan in power, even temporarily. <br /><br />[Philip Obasi, Accountant]: (Male, English)<br />"It is just unfortunate that a country like Nigeria should be facing such a problem, simply because we don't have....we have a constitution but we don't have people who want the constitution to be upheld." <br /><br />Analysts also say too many of Nigeria's influential politicians are benefiting from the status quo. The cabinet consists largely of Yar'Adua appointees who may lose their jobs if he goes.<br /><br />The situation is complicated by an unwritten agreement among the political elite that power should rotate every two presidential terms between the Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.<br /><br />The country feared a military take-over during Yar’Adua’s absence. But the army reassured the people that it would maintain peace.
