March 4, 2010
March 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. State Department voiced concerns today about the “uncertain” medical condition of Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua and the future of Nigerian democracy. It is “essential” for Nigeria’s civilian and military leaders “to avoid any actions that will imperil” Nigerian democracy “as well as the accomplishments that have been achieved under civilian rule,” State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said in an e-mailed statement.
March 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. State Department voiced concerns today about the “uncertain” medical condition of Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua and the future of Nigerian democracy. It is “essential” for Nigeria’s civilian and military leaders “to avoid any actions that will imperil” Nigerian democracy “as well as the accomplishments that have been achieved under civilian rule,” State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said in an e-mailed statement.
The Nigerian president “has not been seen publicly or met with members of his cabinet or any of his country’s key political leaders, generating additional unease about the stability of the country and physical capacity of the president to lead the government,” Crowley said.
Yar’Adua, 58, was flown to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 23 for the treatment of a heart condition. Nigeria’s parliament appointed Vice President Goodluck Jonathan acting president on Feb. 9 to head off a constitutional crisis in Africa’s most populous country.
Jonathan remained acting leader of the oil-rich nation after Yar’Adua returned to the capital of Abuja to recuperate, according to a statement from adviser Olusegun Adeniyi on Feb. 24.
“Senior cabinet members and legislative leaders have a right to know the health status of their president and so do Nigeria’s citizens,” Crowley said.
Nigeria, which vies with Angola to be Africa’s top oil producer, is the fifth-largest supplier of crude oil to the U.S. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Total SA and Eni SpA run joint ventures with the state oil company that together pump more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s crude.
Jonathan, 52, an ethnic Ijaw from the oil-rich Niger River delta state of Bayelsa, won praise for quickly sending troops to contain violent clashes in the north central city of Jos in January. More than 300 people died in the fighting between Christians and Muslims, according to the police.
--Editors: Jim Rubin, Edward DeMarco
To contact the reporter on this story: Ann Hughey at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jim Kirk at [email protected]
The Nigerian president “has not been seen publicly or met with members of his cabinet or any of his country’s key political leaders, generating additional unease about the stability of the country and physical capacity of the president to lead the government,” Crowley said.
Yar’Adua, 58, was flown to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 23 for the treatment of a heart condition. Nigeria’s parliament appointed Vice President Goodluck Jonathan acting president on Feb. 9 to head off a constitutional crisis in Africa’s most populous country.
Jonathan remained acting leader of the oil-rich nation after Yar’Adua returned to the capital of Abuja to recuperate, according to a statement from adviser Olusegun Adeniyi on Feb. 24.
“Senior cabinet members and legislative leaders have a right to know the health status of their president and so do Nigeria’s citizens,” Crowley said.
Nigeria, which vies with Angola to be Africa’s top oil producer, is the fifth-largest supplier of crude oil to the U.S. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Total SA and Eni SpA run joint ventures with the state oil company that together pump more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s crude.
Jonathan, 52, an ethnic Ijaw from the oil-rich Niger River delta state of Bayelsa, won praise for quickly sending troops to contain violent clashes in the north central city of Jos in January. More than 300 people died in the fighting between Christians and Muslims, according to the police.
--Editors: Jim Rubin, Edward DeMarco
To contact the reporter on this story: Ann Hughey at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jim Kirk at [email protected]
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });