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| Nigerians lobby for deputy leader | Nigerians lobby for deputy leader |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nigerian groups are lobbying for the post of vice-president after Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president following the death of Umara Yar'Adua. | Nigerian groups are lobbying for the post of vice-president after Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president following the death of Umara Yar'Adua. |
| Whoever is named vice-president could be a strong contender for presidential elections due in 2011, analysts say. | Whoever is named vice-president could be a strong contender for presidential elections due in 2011, analysts say. |
| It remains unclear whether Mr Jonathan will seek to stand for the governing People's Democratic Party. | It remains unclear whether Mr Jonathan will seek to stand for the governing People's Democratic Party. |
| There is no deadline for him to name a new deputy but an announcement is expected within the coming days. | There is no deadline for him to name a new deputy but an announcement is expected within the coming days. |
| Many shops and business in Nigeria remain closed as the seven days of official mourning continue. | Many shops and business in Nigeria remain closed as the seven days of official mourning continue. |
| But the BBC's Caroline Duffield in the capital Abuja says politics ticks on - over the phone and in private meetings. | But the BBC's Caroline Duffield in the capital Abuja says politics ticks on - over the phone and in private meetings. |
| POSSIBLE VICE-PRESIDENTS Nuhu Ribadu - former anti-corruption chief Aliyu Gusau - newly appointed national security advisorAlhaji Yayale Ahmed - cabinet secretarySule Lamido - governor of Jigawa stateDavid mark - president of the senateMurtala Yar'Adua - late president's nephew href="/2/hi/africa/8664492.stm">Presidential race now on href="/2/hi/africa/8510390.stm">Profile: Goodluck Jonathan href="/2/hi/africa/8664997.stm">Reactions in quotes href="/2/hi/africa/8665441.stm">In pictures: Nigeria mourns href="/2/hi/africa/8664842.stm">Nigerians on Yar'Adua's death | |
| She says there are still no answers to the big questions about Nigeria's future. | She says there are still no answers to the big questions about Nigeria's future. |
| The political deal that has traditionally ensured peace between north and south is coming under strain, our correspondent says. | The political deal that has traditionally ensured peace between north and south is coming under strain, our correspondent says. |
| The PDP has a tradition of alternating power between the mainly Muslim north and the largely Christian south. | The PDP has a tradition of alternating power between the mainly Muslim north and the largely Christian south. |
| Mr Jonathan is a southerner and Mr Yar'Adua died less than half-way through the north's "turn" of two presidential terms. | Mr Jonathan is a southerner and Mr Yar'Adua died less than half-way through the north's "turn" of two presidential terms. |
| To maintain regional balance, Mr Jonathan would be expected to name a northerner as his deputy, which could put that person in a strong position to contest the elections due early in 2011 on behalf of the PDP. | To maintain regional balance, Mr Jonathan would be expected to name a northerner as his deputy, which could put that person in a strong position to contest the elections due early in 2011 on behalf of the PDP. |
| However, there is strong speculation that Mr Jonathan may seek to defy political convention and stand himself. | However, there is strong speculation that Mr Jonathan may seek to defy political convention and stand himself. |
| Thousands at funeral | Thousands at funeral |
| Local media have been speculating about those who could be named vice-president. | Local media have been speculating about those who could be named vice-president. |
| Some names suggested so far include former anti-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu, Aliyu Gusau, who Mr Jonathan recently named as his national security advisor, cabinet secretary Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and Mr Yar'Adua's nephew Murtala Yar'Adua. | Some names suggested so far include former anti-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu, Aliyu Gusau, who Mr Jonathan recently named as his national security advisor, cabinet secretary Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and Mr Yar'Adua's nephew Murtala Yar'Adua. |
| AT THE SCENE Ahmed Idris, BBC News, Katsina | AT THE SCENE Ahmed Idris, BBC News, Katsina |
| Tens of thousands of men shoved and pushed their way into the stadium in Katsina to pay their respects to Nigeria's later President Umaru Yar'Adua. | Tens of thousands of men shoved and pushed their way into the stadium in Katsina to pay their respects to Nigeria's later President Umaru Yar'Adua. |
| Chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) began as his body - on a bamboo stretcher and wrapped in a Nigerian white and green flag - was carried in by military men. | Chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) began as his body - on a bamboo stretcher and wrapped in a Nigerian white and green flag - was carried in by military men. |
| Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida were among the mourners. Other dignitaries included Niger's interim prime minister. There was also a government delegation, but Mr Yar'Adua's deputy, newly sworn-in President Goodluck Jonathan, was not among them. | Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida were among the mourners. Other dignitaries included Niger's interim prime minister. There was also a government delegation, but Mr Yar'Adua's deputy, newly sworn-in President Goodluck Jonathan, was not among them. |
| Security was tight during the prayers, which lasted about 30 minutes in the 40 degree heat; and the mood was sombre as the body was removed to the cemetery for a burial mainly attended by those close to the late president. | Security was tight during the prayers, which lasted about 30 minutes in the 40 degree heat; and the mood was sombre as the body was removed to the cemetery for a burial mainly attended by those close to the late president. |
| Mr Jonathan has been acting president since February and will serve out the rest of the current presidential term. | Mr Jonathan has been acting president since February and will serve out the rest of the current presidential term. |
| Mr Yar'Adua died on Wednesday in the capital Abuja. | Mr Yar'Adua died on Wednesday in the capital Abuja. |
| Thousands attended the funeral in his home town of Katsina. | Thousands attended the funeral in his home town of Katsina. |
| Mr Yar'Adua's election in 2007 marked the first transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigeria's independence in 1960. | Mr Yar'Adua's election in 2007 marked the first transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigeria's independence in 1960. |
| He promised a string of reforms in Africa's most populous nation, including tackling corruption and reforming the inadequate energy sector and flawed electoral system. | He promised a string of reforms in Africa's most populous nation, including tackling corruption and reforming the inadequate energy sector and flawed electoral system. |
| Analysts say he made the most progress in tackling unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta by offering amnesties to rebels. | Analysts say he made the most progress in tackling unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta by offering amnesties to rebels. |
| His long absence and the lack of detailed information about his health led to a political limbo in Nigeria, which was only filled when Mr Jonathan was named as acting president. | His long absence and the lack of detailed information about his health led to a political limbo in Nigeria, which was only filled when Mr Jonathan was named as acting president. |
| However, there was constant tension between supporters of Mr Yar'Adua and Mr Jonathan and in March the acting president dissolved the cabinet and later put his own team in place. | However, there was constant tension between supporters of Mr Yar'Adua and Mr Jonathan and in March the acting president dissolved the cabinet and later put his own team in place. |
| During Mr Yar'Adua's absence, Nigerian Nobel prize-winning author Wole Soyinka was involved in the campaign to resolve the power vacuum. | During Mr Yar'Adua's absence, Nigerian Nobel prize-winning author Wole Soyinka was involved in the campaign to resolve the power vacuum. |
| On Thursday he said Mr Yar'Adua's illness had been manipulated by politicians who had concealed the fact he was in a vegetative state while making arrangements for the forthcoming election. | On Thursday he said Mr Yar'Adua's illness had been manipulated by politicians who had concealed the fact he was in a vegetative state while making arrangements for the forthcoming election. |
| He told the BBC the late president had been a victim of a macabre game over his succession and not been allowed to be ill in dignity. | He told the BBC the late president had been a victim of a macabre game over his succession and not been allowed to be ill in dignity. |