Democracy News
Yar’Adua Dead, Goodluck Assumes Nigerian Presidency
May 10, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
Following an undisclosed illness and a three month absence from the public eye, President Umaru Yar'Adua, 58, died on May 5 in Nigeria. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan officially assumed the presidency just hours after the announcement of Yar'Adua’s death. In November 2009, Yar'Adua left Nigeria to receive medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. His absence created political uncertainty when he failed to relinquish his executive powers, causing confusion over who was head of the government.
Following a political and legal struggle within the county, Jonathan assumed the role of Acting President in February 2010. Since taking over, Jonathan has vowed to fight corruption, promote good governance, and push for electoral reform. In March 2010, Jonathan dissolved the executive cabinet. A number of the cabinet ministers were said to have been involved in corrupt practices.
The New York Times reports that Yar'Adua’s funeral was well attended by the Nigerian citizenry despite religious and regional differences that have long stratified the African nation. During Yar'Adua’s absence, Jonathan, a Christian from the South, was strongly opposed by Yar'Adua’s supporters, mainly Muslims from the North. According to an unwritten, but widely observed agreement, political power is to be rotated between the North and the South. President Olusegun Obasanjo from the North ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. Obasanjo’s eight year rule was expected to be followed up by Yar'Adua’s own eight year residency. Jonathan’s recent ascension was seen by Northerners as a violation of the agreement.
Now that Jonathan has officially been confirmed as president, his next task will be to select a new vice president. Voice of America writes that Jonathan’s choice will signal whether he will continue to side with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by choosing a Northerner, or if he will pursue a more reformist political agenda. If he selects a Southerner, Jonathan will be seen as defying the traditional procedures of the PDP – the party which has ruled the country for nearly thirty years. The PDP is reportedly divided over whether the rotation should be observed or if a reformist agenda should be pursued.
BBC News reports that the violation of the rotation agreement could lead to further political infighting as Nigeria prepares for its next presidential election in April 2011. Politicians from the North insist that Jonathan should not run in next year’s election, and instead propose the nomination of a Northern candidate. Jonathan has not yet announced whether he intends to run.
Despite calls from politicians to observe the rotation, an informal poll in a Nigerian marketplace concluded that average citizen had less rigid views about adhering to the candidate rotation agreement. According to Sadiq Abba, a lecturer from the political science department of the University of Abuja, “The average Nigerian doesn't mind who his or her president is – their main concern is that they are being beaten black and blue economically. They simply want a government that will provide decent services.”
From 1966 to 1999, Nigeria was subject to military rule. Democracy was re-established when President Obasanjo took office in 1999, but the prospects for free and fair democracy was dashed due to allegations of corruption and questionable electoral practices in the 1999 and 2003 elections. Yar'Adua took office in May 2007, following an election that was also deemed fraudulent by the international community.
For previous news about Nigeria, please see:
Acting Nigerian President Dissolves Cabinet
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