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Nigeria Senate presses Yar'Adua | Nigeria Senate presses Yar'Adua |
(20 minutes later) | |
Nigeria's Senate has called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to provide a letter saying he is sick, allowing the country's vice-president to take power. | Nigeria's Senate has called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to provide a letter saying he is sick, allowing the country's vice-president to take power. |
"We... urge the President... Yar'Adua to formally notify the National Assembly of his medical vacation," said Senate leader David Mark. | "We... urge the President... Yar'Adua to formally notify the National Assembly of his medical vacation," said Senate leader David Mark. |
However, the cabinet has ruled that the president is still capable of running the country. | However, the cabinet has ruled that the president is still capable of running the country. |
Mr Yar'Adua has been in a hospital in Saudi Arabia for two months. | Mr Yar'Adua has been in a hospital in Saudi Arabia for two months. |
If he provides the written notice, the vice-president would automatically become acting president, lawyers say. | If he provides the written notice, the vice-president would automatically become acting president, lawyers say. |
His prolonged absence from Nigeria has raised fears of a power vacuum in the country. | His prolonged absence from Nigeria has raised fears of a power vacuum in the country. |
Correspondents say one reason for Mr Yar'adua's reluctance to allow Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act on his behalf is the ruling People's Democratic Party's tradition of alternating power between north and south. | |
Mr Yar'Adua is a northerner, while the vice-president is from the south. So if Mr Jonathan took over, that would shorten the north's "turn". | |
Last week, the country's federal high court gave the cabinet two weeks to decide if Mr Yar'Adua was still capable of ruling the country. | Last week, the country's federal high court gave the cabinet two weeks to decide if Mr Yar'Adua was still capable of ruling the country. |
The president is suffering from an inflammation of the lining around the heart and has long suffered from kidney problems. | The president is suffering from an inflammation of the lining around the heart and has long suffered from kidney problems. |