New Nigerian president sworn in

[Im The Truth]

New Nigerian president sworn in
Umaru Yar'Adua has been sworn in as Nigeria's new president at a colourful ceremony in the capital, Abuja.
Standing on a podium in a parade ground dressed in a white gown, Mr Yar'Adua was cheered by his supporters after he signed the oath of office.

The inauguration marks the first time in Nigeria's history that one civilian leader has taken over from another.

But his election was widely condemned as "not credible" and small protests were held in the largest city, Lagos.

"I, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, do solemnly swear that I will be faithful and hold allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria... That I will protect and defend the constitution," said Mr Yar'Adua, taking the oath from Chief Justice Idris Kutigi.


HAVE YOUR SAY
Let us give Mr Yar'Adua a chance to prove himself
Luseni, Florida


A few minutes previously, Goodluck Jonathan, from the troubled oil-producing Niger Delta region, was sworn in as vice-president.

Nigeria's 36 state governors have also taken their oaths of office around the country.

'Democracy is dead'

Security was tight in both Abuja and Lagos, with police setting up roadblocks.

In Lagos, the BBC's Umar Elleman says hundreds of protesters marched from Ikeja to the Yaba area, watched closely by security forces.


I pray that God can transform him from a man with a questionable mandate into the leader we all crave
Armstrong Adejo Teacher, Benue State


The protesters, led by activist Tunji Braithwaite, said they were mourning the death of democracy in Nigeria.
"Democracy is dead in Nigeria. So, we have come out on the streets to bury democracy," protester Justin Jalingo told the BBC.

Five of the protesters were arrested as they carried a mock coffin of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In Abuja, Mr Obasanjo was driven into Eagle Square for the ceremony in an open jeep, waving to spectators in the reviewing stands.

Anglican bishop Peter Akinola gave an opening prayer before military bands and Nigerian soldiers in dress uniforms performed a slow march around the square.

The crowd, containing several African leaders and foreign diplomats, was also entertained by a troupe of synchronised dancers and police motorcycle stunt riders.

The BBC's Alex Last in Abuja says President Yar'Adua will have to prove his independence from Mr Obasanjo, who picked his successor and remains chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

He adds that Mr Yar'Adua inherits many challenges in Africa's most populous country and largest oil producer.

'Strengthened democracy'

Armstrong Adejo, a university teacher in Makurdi, Benue State in central Nigeria told the BBC: "I pray that God can transform him from a man with a questionable mandate into the leader we all crave."


A two-day strike called by trade unions in protest at alleged electoral fraud has so far received a muted response.
After many years of military rule, Mr Obasanjo was elected president in 1999 and served two four-year terms.

In his farewell address on Monday evening, Mr Obasanjo pledged his support for Mr Yar'Adua and his government, and said he was leaving the country with a strengthened democracy.

"We have run the longest democratic dispensation and eliminated the risk of violent changes of government through coups and counter-coups in our political culture," Mr Obasanjo said.

The election commission, Inec, has denied charges that it favoured the PDP during last month's elections.

Mr Yar'Adua won a landslide victory in those polls, according to official results. He has promised to introduce electoral reforms.

The two main opposition candidates have challenged the results in court.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ca/6699337.stm

Published: 2007/05/29 14:37:35 GMT

© BBC MMVII

[Im The Truth]

Profile: Umaru Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is the first civilian leader in Nigeria to have taken over from another after winning controversial polls in April.

The former chemistry teacher is also the first Nigerian leader for 40 years to be university educated, but little is known about him - even in his home state.

The reclusive Muslim governor comes from the northern state of Katsina and is not a major political mover or shaker.

But at 56, he boasts a political pedigree that dates back to the 1960s when his father was appointed as a minister in the post-independence administration.

His late elder brother who was an army general served as Olusegun Obasanjo's deputy when the former president was Nigeria's military ruler during the 1970s.

They were both imprisoned together after they were accused of plotting a coup against late military strongman Gen Sani Abacha.

Backing

Mr Yar'Adua's emergence as the ruling People's Democratic Party's candidate in the presidential election in April 2007 rests almost exclusively on the support of Mr Obasanjo.

Nigerian presidency sources say Mr Obasanjo used a mixture of inducements and threats of investigation by the anti-graft agency to persuade 10 influential state governors to withdraw from the race and back Mr Yar'Adua.

Analysts say that by backing Mr Yar'Adua to succeed him, Mr Obasanjo will hope to continue pulling strings now that he has stepped down as president.

Shortly after he won his party's nomination, Mr Yar'Adua paid tribute to former President Obasanjo whom he described as "the father of democracy and good governance in Nigeria".

He pledged to continue with Mr Obasanjo's economic reforms and fight against corruption.

Independence

But analysts say that Mr Obasanjo might have difficulty trying to control Mr Yar'Adua who is said to be quite independent-minded.

"He differed with his own brother on many occasions and criticised him on many issues and so I don't expect him to be easily controlled by Obasanjo," says the BBC's Mansur Liman in Abuja.

Although he is reputed to be prudent in managing funds in Katsina State where he had been governor for the past seven years, critics say contracts have gone to companies with links to his family's vast businesses.

He was among only a few Nigerian governors that publicly declared their assets before he was sworn-in as governor in 1999 and in 2003 - when he won a second term. He is also one of the few serving governors not being investigated for corruption.

As an undergraduate student in Nigeria's Ahmadu Bello University, Mr Yar'Adua was a self-confessed Marxist and criticised his elder brother's 'capitalist' leanings.

A man of few airs and graces, he is also known to have ignored the advice of aides and bodyguards to walk alone to tobacco kiosks to buy a single cigarette.

Described by his critics as taciturn and not known for his tolerance of opposition, Mr Yar'Adua has sometimes been underestimated.

As one commentator put it, "because he's quiet, people mistake him for a weakling. But he's someone who knows his own mind".

After his controversial election, Nigeria's new president will need all these skills to lead one of the continent's most testing countries.



Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ca/6187249.stm

Published: 2007/05/29 17:29:55 GMT

© BBC MMVII