Nigerian VP says hopes Yar'Adua will return soon
ABUJA
Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday he was hopeful that President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is in hospital in Saudi Arabia, would return soon and continue to govern Africa's most populous nation.
Yar'Adua has been absent for more than a month and Jonathan has been presiding over cabinet meetings. But executive powers have not officially been transferred, leading to questions over the legality of government decisions.
Political analysts, senior lawyers and a former U.S. envoy have warned Nigeria is on the brink of a constitutional crisis. The Bar Association has brought legal action to try to compel Yar'Adua to temporarily hand over power.
But in a wide-ranging New Year's Day address to the nation, Jonathan said "the ship of state continues to sail" and that "the nation remains united and driven by a common purpose".
"Although Mr President has been away from us for sometime on account of a medical condition, he has maintained sustained interest and optimism (in state affairs)," Jonathan said.
"We are hopeful Mr President would return to us before long to continue his good works, with renewed vigour and vitality."
Lawyers and members of the opposition who have challenged Yar'Adua's failure to formally transfer powers say affairs of state are already being affected.
A new chief justice was sworn in on Wednesday in Yar'Adua's absence, leading legal experts to question the legality of the ceremony. The top judge is a key position because he would in turn swear in a new president, legal experts say.
Militants in the restive Niger Delta last month attacked a major oil pipeline, saying Yar'Adua's absence was slowing peace talks, while clashes between the security forces and an Islamic sect in the northern city of Bauchi on Monday underscored the country's volatility as it approaches 2011 elections.
Watershed
"This year represents a watershed in our efforts to conduct peaceful and credible elections and the consolidation of our democracy," Jonathan said.
"Let me reiterate Mr President's commitment that elections must not only be free and fair, but must be all-inclusive and conducted with the utmost transparency."
Jonathan also said the government would soon announce further measures to stimulate the economy in the wake of last year's $4 billion bailout of nine weakly capitalised banks. Several banks have cut jobs in the wake of the reforms.
"Shortly, policy measures will be announced to ensure that the individuals who are directly affected by the fallouts of the reforms are spared undue hardship through job creation and economic stimulus programmes," Jonathan said.
The speech also touched on the need to fight corruption in one of the world's most tainted nations and build on an amnesty programme in the Niger Delta with infrastructure development.
Jonathan apologised for the government's failure to improve power generation to its 6,000 megawatt target by the end of 2009 and promised tighter security after the foiled Christmas Day attack on a U.S. passenger plane by a Nigerian citizen.
"This singular act, which is completely alien to our culture and way of life has no doubt inflicted deep wounds in our national psyche," Jonathan said.
"Our overall response will be firm, effective and robust," he said, promising closer co-operation among the nation's security agencies.
