Africa News
Nigeria empowers vice president to run country
Feb 9, 2010, 12:56 GMT
Nairobi/Abuja - Nigeria's Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday both passed motions empowering Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to act as president in the absence of ailing leader Umaru Yar'Adua.
Yar'Adua, 58, has been in a Saudi hospital since November receiving treatment for a heart condition. His absence sparked fears of a power vacuum, opposition calls for him to hand over power and several unsuccessful court cases aimed at forcing him out.
Both motions said Jonathan could rule until Yar'Adua returned to work.
Yar'Adua has been largely silent during his illness, although in January he angered the Nigerian media by choosing to speak exclusively to British broadcaster the BBC. In the interview, he vowed to return to work shortly.
Doctors said in December that Yar'Adua was suffering from acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart. He is also known to have kidney problems.
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