Powerful Nigerian governors call on absent and ill president to cede power to vice president
By APFriday, February 5, 2010
Nigerian governors call on president to cede power
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s state governors have called on the country’s absent president to cede power to the vice president to calm a growing constitutional crisis in the West African nation.
The governors said in a statement Thursday that President Umaru Yar’Adua should issue a decree transferring power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, as required by the nation’s constitution in a prolonged absence.
Yar’Adua, who suffered from kidney problems and an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, left for Saudi Arabia in late November for treatment. Since then, lawsuits and protestors have called on him to cede power.
The 36 state governors wield tremendous political power, as each controls a budget fueled by oil revenues that rivals the entire funding of other countries.
