Nigeria Swears In Goodluck Jonathan as New Leader

(May 6) -- Amid national mourning, Goodluck Jonathan was officially sworn in today as president of Nigeria following the death of the man whose duties he had been exercising since February.

Jonathan took the oath of office almost 12 hours after the death late Wednesday of Umaru Yar'Adua, 58, who had long been treated for kidney ailments and was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia with heart problems for months beginning last November. His unannounced disappearance then started a period of uncertainty that won't end with Jonathan's assumption of office.

As Jonathan made a brief address in which he said Nigeria had lost "the jewel on its crown" and vowed a tough crackdown on corruption, the body of the former president was being flown to his home region in the north of the country for a traditional Muslim burial.

After donning the official presidential sash bearing the green, white and yellow colors of Nigeria, Jonathan said he was committed to pursuing electoral reform "with greater vigor," adding, "One of the true tests will be that all votes count, and are counted, in our upcoming presidential election."

The vote, scheduled for next year, presents Jonathan, a Christian from Nigeria's south, with a challenge and a possible political fight.

Nigeria's presidency traditionally alternates between individuals from the Muslim north and the Christian south. Because Yar'Adua served less than three years in office, some in the ruling People's Democratic Party insist that Jonathan should select a Muslim deputy, who would then be seen as the next presidential candidate.

Alternatively, Jonathan could try to strengthen his support and defy the political convention by running for office himself, according to the BBC.

One of Jonathan's first acts was to declare today a public holiday and the start of a seven-day national mourning period for the 150 million people in Africa's most populous country.

"The heavens mourn with our nation tonight," Jonathan declared in a statement after Yar'Adua's death was announced, as tributes flowed in from world leaders, including President Barack Obama and the leaders of Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria is one of the biggest exporters of oil to the U.S. Bringing stability to the oil-rich Niger Delta, home to militants in the country's south, will be of top concern for Jonathan.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, one of several rebel groups, paid its own tribute to Yar'Adua, calling him "a genuine peacemaker whose initiatives, humility and respect began to bring confidence to the peace process." The group added, "His death may leave a vacuum that may not be filled."

The 2007 election of Yar'Adua, who came from an aristocratic background, was the first time that power had been transferred from one civilian president to another since Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.