Nigerian media call for president to transfer power
The heads of 17 Nigerian media organisations have called for ailing president Umaru Yar'Adua to formally transfer power to vice president Goodluck Jonathan within seven days or resign. The owners of the country's top newspapers and media organisations issued a joint statement on Wednesday, 3 February 2010.
In it they said the National Assembly should start an impeachment process if Yar'Adua fails to comply with the deadline as he has been away for more than 70 days. Yar'Adua has been in Saudi Arabia receiving medical treatment for a serious heart condition since November. In that time several legal cases have been put forward calling for his resignation. In the latest ruling, the high court said there was no constitutional requirement for an interim leader to be appointed.
Source: Panos London
Panos London promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in national and international development debates through media and communication projects. It is part of the worldwide Panos Network of independent institutes working to ensure that information is used more effectively to foster debate, pluralism and democracy.
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