Jonathan assured on role of acting president

* Acting President scheduled to brief staff

* Confusion could endanger oil region amnesty

By Felix Onuah

ABUJA, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Britain offered public support to Nigerian Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday after the return of Nigeria's ailing leader prompted concerns of a power struggle in Africa's most populous nation.

The former colonial ruler and the United States had, like many Nigerians, feared the surprise arrival of President Umaru Yar'Adua on Wednesday after three months in a Saudi hospital could lead to confusion and government deadlock.

Britain welcomed a statement from Yar'Adua's spokesman on Thursday that Jonathan would keep full powers and remain commander of chief until the recovery of Yar'Adua, 58, who is still too frail to rule the major oil exporter.

"It is important to avoid uncertainty at this time," Britain's ambassador, Bob Dewar, said in a statement.

"It is also important at this time to avoid any political or constitutional confusion that could put at risk the integrity and transparency needed in the conduct of public affairs," Dewar said, offering support to Jonathan and the government.

Jonathan was due to brief presidency staff on Friday, a Muslim holiday in Nigeria, in a sign of asserting his authority.

Jonathan assumed executive powers on Feb. 9, ending months of state paralysis and allowing him to set priorities such as an amnesty for rebels in the oil-producing Niger Delta, restoring power supplies and preparing for elections.

Any return to uncertainty could again hold up decision making in the country of 140 million and risk a surge of attacks by militants who have in the past shut in as much of a third of the OPEC member's oil output capacity.

Concerns arose after Yar'Adua's return that a cabal around him sought to sideline Jonathan and retain influence.

Access to Yar'Adua in a mobile intensive care unit is closely guarded by his powerful wife, Turai. Jonathan has not spoken to him since his return.

If Jonathan appeared to be sidelined, it could increase the chances of a new flare-up in the Niger Delta, his home region, where militants have threatened attacks on Africa's biggest energy industry if there is no progress on an amnesty programme.

Thousands laid down weapons under the programme last year but promises of stipends and training have been slow coming.

another addition to their long list of dishonest diplomacy towards Nigeria? where have they been all this while?

Thank God for the Americans, they decided that its time to have a totally different Foreign Policy towards Nigeria. They may have reasoned that their interest is not necessarily threatened if there is justice in Nigeria.

But Britain up till now continued to maintain their colonial era thinking towards Nigeria. 'Ensure power remains in the hands of those they have historically controlled at all cost and then use them to control the rest of the country'.

Shame on their imperialist diplomacy. It is simply outdated.

Keep them coming people.
eyes are watching

the terror blacklist is part of the strategy to undermine yar'adua and the northern hegemony

OYB_MEND:

the terror blacklist is part of the strategy to undermine yar'adua and the northern hegemony

Hmm interesting. What do the USA stand to gain by undermining Yar'adua and the north?

snowdrops:

Hmm interesting. What do the USA stand to gain by undermining Yar'adua and the north?

so that another set of vast oil resources will not fall into the hands of the Muslim world

The world is already tired of Iraq, Iran, Saudi,  . . . . .to allow another set of Al-Qaeda worshiping terrorist wannabe people control Nigeria and its vast oil resources is a danger to world peace and balance of power.

especially when the oil itself is not in the muslim north

OYB_MEND:

so that another set of vast oil resources will not fall into the hands of the Muslim world

The world is already tired of Iraq, Iran, Saudi, . . . . .to allow another set of Al-Qaeda worshiping terrorist wannabe people control Nigeria and its vast oil resources is a danger to world peace and balance of power.

especially when the oil itself is not in the muslim north

But then the US has always been Nigerias' largest crude oil trading partner even when most of our leaders since independence have come from the north. We dont have a choice but to trade with America. Where else would we head to?

OYB_MEND:

another addition to their long list of dishonest diplomacy towards Nigeria? where have they been all this while?

Thank God for the Americans, they decided that its time to have a totally different Foreign Policy towards Nigeria. They may have reasoned that their interest is not necessarily threatened if there is justice in Nigeria.

But Britain up till now continued to maintain their colonial era thinking towards Nigeria. 'Ensure power remains in the hands of those they have historically controlled at all cost and then use them to control the rest of the country'.

Shame on their imperialist diplomacy. It is simply outdated.

You got that so right!
I believe, young Mutallab awakened the US. While they were busy doing their best to help us attain stability, the UK was taking fake phone calls through the BBC. Now that Yar Adua is with us, has he been able to speak with a single soul? Talkless of picking up the phone?

snowdrops:

But then the US has always been Nigerias' largest crude oil trading partner even when most of our leaders since independence have come from the north. We dont have a choice but to trade with America. Where else would we head to?

The dynamics of world politics and peace has changed since then and US has new threats to their National Security
Their threats are no longer only from Russia but from a stateless terrorist group driven by religion and most times found in countries where there vast oil resources.

So Nigeria of the 1990 and Nigeria of 2010 has changed a lot and surely the west is reviewing its Foreign Relations towards Nigeria.
Besides the West is tired of the fact that they have backed the Muslim north for 50years and yet Nigeria is failing on all fronts and looking more like a country getting set to be breeding ground for Al-Qaeda. Abdull-Mutallab, BokoKaram, Danish cartoon killers.

The world is getting tired of your mediocrity and have chosen to change course. So you guys have the choice to be like Moderate Muslims in Indonesia, Malaysia  . . . . .or radical Muslims like Pakistan, Afghanistan

I don't even any need British statements on Nigeria at all. What they need to do is to apologise for creating Nigeria, a country made up of disparate tribes, without a referendum.