VPG:

Nigeria leader Goodluck Jonathan dissolves cabinet

Goodluck Jonathan assumed executive powers on 9 February
Nigeria's acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, has dissolved the country's cabinet, government sources say.

Mr Jonathan became acting president in February amid the continuing illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Mr Yar'Adua went to Saudi Arabia for treatment in November last year and, despite returning to Nigeria recently, has not been seen in public.

The cabinet was picked by Mr Yar'Adua and correspondents say Mr Jonathan is now trying to stamp his own authority.

Election candidate

Information Minister Dora Akunyili said after a cabinet meeting: "Today, the acting president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, dissolved the Federal Executive Council (cabinet).


ANALYSIS

Chris Ewokor, BBC News, Abuja
The move was expected, considering the stories that made the rounds of the newspaper front pages in Nigeria on Wednesday. Some here had been calling for the dissolution of the cabinet, suggesting it had not performed to expectations.
Many here will see this as a major move by the acting president to consolidate his position.

But it is not the first such action. Soon after he became acting president he asserted his authority by swapping ministers - including the minister of justice, who was seen as a close ally of ailing President Yar'Adua.

"He did not give us any reason for the dissolution. Permanent secretaries will take charge of the ministries from tomorrow."

Ms Akunyili said that Mr Jonathan would issue a statement soon on the future make-up of the cabinet.

Mr Jonathan will have to submit the list of new ministers to the National Assembly.

It was only on 9 February that the assembly appointed Mr Jonathan as acting president, allowing him to sign legislation, chair cabinet meetings, reshuffle ministers and release oil funds.

Since he assumed power he has been faced with serious communal violence between Muslim and Christian groups near the city of Jos that has left hundreds dead. On Wednesday, at least 10 people were killed in an attack on a mainly Christian village near Jos.

Armed groups who say they are fighting for a fairer share of oil wealth have also continued their campaign in the Niger Delta.


YAR'ADUA ILLNESS TIMELINE

23 Nov 2009: Goes to hospital in Saudi Arabia
26 Nov: Doctors say he has pericarditis, a heart problem
23 Dec: First court case filed urging him to step down
12 Jan: President gives telephone interview from Saudi Arabia
27 Jan: Cabinet declares president fit
9 Feb: Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan made acting president
24 Feb: Yar'Adua returns
President Yar'Adua was treated in Saudi Arabia for what his doctor described as acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. There are no details of his current condition.

Amid the continuing uncertainty over Mr Yar'Adua, it was announced on Tuesday that next year's presidential election could be brought forward by three months.

Mr Yar'Adua's term of office expires in May 2011 but he is not expected to stand again.

The ruling People's Democratic Party, to which both Mr Yar'Adua and Mr Jonathan belong, has a policy of alternating between Muslim and Christian presidential candidates, allowing each to serve two four-year terms.

Mr Yar'Adua, a Muslim, was elected in 2007 after Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, had ruled for eight years.

The People's Democratic Party this month confirmed that a Muslim would be the candidate next year to continue this policy, ruling out Mr Jonathan, a Christian.

In short,

I don't want any muslim infidel to sit on that seat again.

These people are devil's incarnate.

May y'all and sharia rot in sheol.

Nonsense!

By the way, are they not supposed to produce a worthy candidate,

Regardless of religion?

I can see that it is PDP that is ruling Nigeria!

Don't worry, I'm coming for you all! 

FL Gators:


Is that Cossy I see?

honeric01:

Where you see Cossy? you with this your cossy breasy obsession

FL Gators:

Dont mess up my reputation jor.
Do I look like a lesbian to you?
I just thought I saw a half-chihuahua half-human in the rally

honeric01:

lol, oh sorry, didn't know you "liked" only the frontpage.

Chihuahua, ah, that ugly dog, chei, cossy don suffer

violent:

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FL Gators:

Liked or licked?
Which one nau?

tehhehehehe

I've seen mamagee's real [not the ones in her profile pix] pix, she's beautiful 

I dont know who this charley is but I'm beginning to like him

I have one question for you?

Why are the cops lined up like that? What building or what are they trying to protect?