Both houses of Nigeria’s National Assembly have passed a motion asking that Umaru Yar’Adua hand temporary power to his deputy President, Goodluck Jonathan. Yar’Adua has been out of the country (and by most accounts out of contact) since November and speculation has run the gamut as to just how sick he is. He has been receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia for more than two months. Unintentionally revealing just how fraught this situation could become is the following tidbit:
“The ruling party alternates leadership between north and south, and Mr Yar’Adua’s northern backers wanted to keep his southern deputy out of office.”
Now keep in mind, this division comes from within the ruling party. Let us all just hope that this situation can be resolved peacefully.
