Nigeria's VP takes reins as acting President

Nigerian Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan took the reins of office as acting President in front of the Nigerian cabinet Tuesday night. The move allows him to tackle crucial government business while President Umaru Yar'Adua is receiving treatment abroad for a heart problem.

A poster showing an image of Nigeria's President Umaru Musa Yar'adua is pasted on a wall along a road in Nigeria Reuters

"I am fully aware of the responsibilities reposed in me, and I want to reassure all Nigerians that this is a sacred trust, which I shall discharge to my fullest abilities," Jonathan said in a speech that was broadcast on television.

Although the Nigerian cabinet had previously not approved any sort of transfer of power, the Justice Ministry said Jonathan had the government's full support. This tacit agreement sealed the deal for the future of the top post.

However, the cabinet is currently meeting with Jonathan, and they are slated to make a statement today after the meeting.

Yar'Adua has been receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia since 23 November. He left without transferring power to Jonathan, his Vice-President, which has caused major disruptions in the country, from the appointment of senior judicial officials to maintaining the amnesty given to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) fighters.

"The circumstances in which I find myself assuming office today as acting President of our country are uncommon, sober and reflective," Jonathan said, adding that he was honoured to take the post in Africa's most populous country.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnny Carson had met with Jonathan on Tuesday while the Nigerian National Assembly had gathered to vote to hand over power to the Vice President.

"The Secretary of State [Hillary Clinton] wanted me to clearly convey that during this period of uncertainty we believe that it is very important that if indeed there is a transition of political power in Nigeria let it be done democratically," Carson said after the meeting.

Although assuming the acting head of state position should help quell some issues within the country, there are those who continue to protest the unconstitutionality of the shift of power.

"The issue is that the current vice president can only become president for two reasons: the president writes a letter, transferring his power over to his vice president; or the National Assembly impeaches the president," said Bashir Ibrahim Idriss, of RFI's Hausa service in Lagos.

But even if the cabinet opposes the Jonathan appointment as acting president, only the Supreme Court can ultimately decide, said Ibrahim Idriss.

It also raises sensitive issues on a community and religious level. Yar'Adua is a Muslim from the north, while Jonathan is a Christian from the southern Niger Delta region.