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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Nigeria deputy 'has full powers' | Nigeria deputy 'has full powers' |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Nigeria's deputy leader Goodluck Jonathan is still the country's acting president while Umaru Yar'Adua is sick, the information minister has said. | Nigeria's deputy leader Goodluck Jonathan is still the country's acting president while Umaru Yar'Adua is sick, the information minister has said. |
| Dora Akunyili was speaking amid confusion about who wields power in Nigeria after President Yar'Adua unexpectedly returned home. | Dora Akunyili was speaking amid confusion about who wields power in Nigeria after President Yar'Adua unexpectedly returned home. |
| The president's office quickly backed Mr Jonathan's position. | |
| Earlier an official statement pointedly referred to Mr Jonathan as vice-president, inferring far less power. | |
| Correspondents say a political struggle could be under way between rival power brokers. | |
| Presidential powers | Presidential powers |
| In a clear statement, the information minister insisted that Mr Jonathan retained power. | In a clear statement, the information minister insisted that Mr Jonathan retained power. |
| ANALYSIS Caroline Duffield, BBC News, Abuja | ANALYSIS Caroline Duffield, BBC News, Abuja |
| The surprise return of the president was a calculated fight-back staged by his closest allies. | The surprise return of the president was a calculated fight-back staged by his closest allies. |
| They - and the vested interests behind them - have carefully watched Goodluck Jonathan take on the job of acting president. On returning, they publicly called him the vice-president. | They - and the vested interests behind them - have carefully watched Goodluck Jonathan take on the job of acting president. On returning, they publicly called him the vice-president. |
| Many people say this was an overt attempt to regain power. Others suggest it was a display - intended to warn Mr Jonathan that the ultimate power, the military, is with the Yar'Adua group. | Many people say this was an overt attempt to regain power. Others suggest it was a display - intended to warn Mr Jonathan that the ultimate power, the military, is with the Yar'Adua group. |
| Sceptics believe Mr Jonathan will now have to do a deal with the president's friends, and will serve as acting president only to do their bidding. | |
| It is uncertain whether power really has shifted in this country. | It is uncertain whether power really has shifted in this country. |
| "Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the acting president, is in charge," Ms Akunyili told Reuters news agency. | "Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the acting president, is in charge," Ms Akunyili told Reuters news agency. |
| "There is no way he can go back to vice-president without going through the process that made him acting president." | "There is no way he can go back to vice-president without going through the process that made him acting president." |
| The BBC's Caroline Duffield in the capital, Abuja, says the status of acting president is critical. | The BBC's Caroline Duffield in the capital, Abuja, says the status of acting president is critical. |
| She says an acting president can sign legislation, chair cabinet meetings, reshuffle ministers and release oil funds. | She says an acting president can sign legislation, chair cabinet meetings, reshuffle ministers and release oil funds. |
| Until he was formally made acting president earlier this month, Mr Jonathan had enjoyed only a ceremonial role since Mr Yar'Adua went for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia last November. | |
| On his return on Tuesday, the presidency called him vice-president and only said he would "continue to oversee the affairs of state". | On his return on Tuesday, the presidency called him vice-president and only said he would "continue to oversee the affairs of state". |
| But in a special TV broadcast on Thursday, Mr Yar'Adua's spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said Mr Jonathan remained Nigeria's acting leader and commander-in-chief. | |
| "The acting president has already called us for a meeting tomorrow to brief us on how things will work, that is how he will run the presidency including everybody so it is just one presidency," he was quoted as saying. | |
| Tussle for power | Tussle for power |
| Mr Yar'Adua's condition is unknown and he has not been seen in public since 23 November. | Mr Yar'Adua's condition is unknown and he has not been seen in public since 23 November. |
| No-one, not even Mr Jonathan, has seen the severely ill president since he returned to Nigeria, our correspondent says. | No-one, not even Mr Jonathan, has seen the severely ill president since he returned to Nigeria, our correspondent says. |
| Behind the scenes, this is all about a ferocious scramble for power and access to Nigeria's vast oil revenues, she adds. | Behind the scenes, this is all about a ferocious scramble for power and access to Nigeria's vast oil revenues, she adds. |
| Nigerians fear Mr Yar'Adua is controlled by those around him. His wife, Turai Yar'Adua, has emerged as a dominating figure, and stands accused of running the government in all but name. | Nigerians fear Mr Yar'Adua is controlled by those around him. His wife, Turai Yar'Adua, has emerged as a dominating figure, and stands accused of running the government in all but name. |
| YAR'ADUA ILLNESS TIMELINE 23 Nov 2009: Goes to hospital in Saudi Arabia26 Nov: Doctors say he has pericarditis, a heart problem23 Dec: First court case filed urging him to step down12 Jan: President gives telephone interview from Saudi Arabia27 Jan: Cabinet declares president fit9 Feb: Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan made acting president24 Feb: Yar'Adua returns Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua Q&A: Nigeria political crisis Suffering and cursing in Nigeria Yar'Adua returns: Your comments | YAR'ADUA ILLNESS TIMELINE 23 Nov 2009: Goes to hospital in Saudi Arabia26 Nov: Doctors say he has pericarditis, a heart problem23 Dec: First court case filed urging him to step down12 Jan: President gives telephone interview from Saudi Arabia27 Jan: Cabinet declares president fit9 Feb: Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan made acting president24 Feb: Yar'Adua returns Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua Q&A: Nigeria political crisis Suffering and cursing in Nigeria Yar'Adua returns: Your comments |
| For two days no-one has been able to say who holds power and it remains unclear what should happen next. | For two days no-one has been able to say who holds power and it remains unclear what should happen next. |
| "We do not think he [Mr Yar'Adua] has the capacity today," Osita Okechukwu of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, a group representing opposition parties, told the BBC on Wednesday. | "We do not think he [Mr Yar'Adua] has the capacity today," Osita Okechukwu of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, a group representing opposition parties, told the BBC on Wednesday. |
| "We are appealing to him, and his handlers, that he should honourably resign his appointment." | "We are appealing to him, and his handlers, that he should honourably resign his appointment." |
| Late on Wednesday, the Senate sought to avoid a repeat of the constitutional uncertainty by voting to force future leaders who are sick to step aside after 14 days' absence from office. | Late on Wednesday, the Senate sought to avoid a repeat of the constitutional uncertainty by voting to force future leaders who are sick to step aside after 14 days' absence from office. |
| However, this has to be approved by the House of Representatives and two-thirds of state legislatures. | However, this has to be approved by the House of Representatives and two-thirds of state legislatures. |