26/02/2010 20:21 WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (AFP)
US supports Nigeria's acting president

The United States said Friday it backed Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan and voiced concern that ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua's return from abroad might be a reckless bid by his advisers to advance their own interests.

Yar'Adua's return Wednesday threw the country into confusion and revived concerns of a leadership squabble just two weeks after his vice president Jonathan was installed as acting president after a nearly three-month leadership vacuum.

"What is important first and foremost,  is who is the recognized leader of Nigeria, and right now I believe it is acting president Goodluck Jonathan," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters when asked who Washington recognizes.

"We are concerned that his return is not an effort by his senior advisers to upset Nigeria's stability in an effort to forward their own personal interests," Crowley said.

"Nigeria at this point needs a strong and effective leader to ensure the stability of the country" and manage its economic, political and security challenges," Crowley said.

Yar'Adua returned Wednesday after a three-month stay in a Saudi hospital fueling concern about fresh turmoil, but his deputy said all was "on course."

©2010 AFP

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U.S., Britain back Nigeria's acting leader
By Felix Onuah
Reuters
updated 4:18 p.m. ET Feb. 26, 2010

ABUJA - Britain and the United States offered support to Nigerian Acting President Goodluck Jonathan Friday after the return of Nigeria's ailing leader prompted fears 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 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 in 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.

U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley underscored Washington's continued support for Jonathan, and cautioned other Nigerian political factions not to use Yar'Adua's return to destabilize the country.

"We are concerned that his return is not an effort by his senior advisers to upset Nigeria's stability in an effort to forward their own personal interests," Crowley told reporters.

"We have tremendous concern about stability and our message to all of the players in Nigeria is make sure this moves forward in a stable, constitutional and democratic way."

Jonathan assumed executive powers on February 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.

JONATHAN REASSERTS AUTHORITY

In a sign of Jonathan asserting his authority, he briefed presidency staff Friday on how he intended to work.

"It's a meeting to harmonize the two offices, the president's office and the VP's office to work as one presidency," said one official. There was no statement after the meeting.

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.

A senior U.S. official said it did not appear Yar'Adua was in any position to resume power.

"Right right now he is still in dire health and he is not able to govern himself," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity

"We do have concerns about his movement from Saudi Arabia back to Nigeria and what some people around him may be trying to do with that," he said.

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 program.

Thousands laid down weapons under the program last year but promises of stipends and training have been slow in coming.
Copyright 2010 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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frosbel:

26/02/2010 20:21 WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (AFP)
US supports Nigeria's acting president

The United States said Friday it backed Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan and voiced concern that ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua's[b] return from abroad might be a reckless bid by his advisers to advance their own interests.[/b]

Yar'Adua's return Wednesday threw the country into confusion and revived concerns of a leadership squabble just two weeks after his vice president Jonathan was installed as acting president after a nearly three-month leadership vacuum.

"What is important first and foremost,  is who is the recognized leader of Nigeria, and right now I believe it is acting president Goodluck Jonathan," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters when asked who Washington recognizes.

"We are concerned that his return is not an effort by his senior advisers to upset Nigeria's stability in an effort to forward their own personal interests," Crowley said.

"Nigeria at this point needs a strong and effective leader to ensure the stability of the country" and manage its economic, political and security challenges," Crowley said.

Yar'Adua returned Wednesday after a three-month stay in a Saudi hospital fueling concern about fresh turmoil, but his deputy said all was "on course."

©2010 AFP

I thought long and hard about the highlighted and i agree with the US. . . .
Me even think Yaradua might not even know he's back on Nigerian soil. . . .Hehehe

frosbel:

26/02/2010 20:21 WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (AFP)
US supports Nigeria's acting president

The United States said Friday it backed Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan and voiced concern that ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua's return from abroad might be a reckless bid by his advisers to advance their own interests.

Yar'Adua's return Wednesday threw the country into confusion and revived concerns of a leadership squabble just two weeks after his vice president Jonathan was installed as acting president after a nearly three-month leadership vacuum.

"What is important first and foremost,  is who is the recognized leader of Nigeria, and right now I believe it is acting president Goodluck Jonathan," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters when asked who Washington recognizes.

"We are concerned that his return is not an effort by his senior advisers to upset Nigeria's stability in an effort to forward their own personal interests," Crowley said.
"Nigeria at this point needs a strong and effective leader to ensure the stability of the country" and manage its economic, political and security challenges," Crowley said.

Yar'Adua returned Wednesday after a three-month stay in a Saudi hospital fueling concern about fresh turmoil, but his deputy said all was "on course."

©2010 AFP

That is what is all about, even the so called smart Turai is only a pawn in the hands of the Hawks/kitchen cabinet who knows that they may end up in Jail if Yar A'failure is declared incapacitated, so they rush him in on the morning before FEC will have sat to delibarate on 6 FEC members report from their visits to Saudi Arabia.

Yar A'dua is medically dead since DEcember 2009, they are just putting him on lif support until they clean house. BARAWO BANSA

There is something fishy going on.

Last week Tony Blair was in Nigeria for a so called Malaria awareness initiative and former President, George W. Bush with the previous Secretary of State to his government, Prof. Condoleezza Rice All were in ABUJA for THISDAY;s Nigeria-at-50 Awards.

I am suspicious that during this period some private chats must have gone on with Jonathan and Obasanjo with the former western leaders voicing their full support for the acting president.

The recent events in Nigeria are no coincidence, change is coming to Nigeria, real change

My only prayer is that there will be no bloodshed.

frosbel:

There is something fishy going on.

Last week Tony Blair was in Nigeria for a so called Malaria awareness initiative and former President, George W. Bush with the previous Secretary of State to his government, Prof. Condoleezza Rice All were in ABUJA for THISDAY;s Nigeria-at-50 Awards.

I am suspicious that during this period some private chats must have gone on with Jonathan and Obasanjo with the former western leaders voicing their full support for the acting president.

The recent events in Nigeria are no coincidence, change is coming to Nigeria, real change

My only prayer is that there will be no bloodshed.

I am sorry to disappoint you, change may be coming to Nigeria BUT NO REAL CHANGE happens without bloodshed in a country like Nigeria where there are too much entrenched interest.

No Nigerian leader today stand for anything and they will ultimately fail for standing for nothing. There is no fear of God in the heart of our leaders, they will invoked Allah or Jesus several times in a day and asked you to pray for liars like Yar A'dua.

BLOOD GUSHING REVOLUTION IS WHAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE FUTURE TO BE PROMISING. PDP IS AN EVIL PARTY AND THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES ARE NO DIFFERENT ONCE THEY GET TO POWER.