Nigerian President Yar’adua Is Dead

Nigerian president Umaru Yar’adua is dead.

The fifty-eight year old Yaradua died in the presidential villa at about 9 pm on wednesday.

The news of his death was confirmed by aides and also by the Information minister.  Yar’Adua, , had been ill for some time, and had not been seen in public for months. He returned to the country in february a few weeks after Goodluck Jonathan became Acting President but didn’t make any public appearances.

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Mr. Jonathan automatically becomes the substantive president and, according to the constitution, must be sworn in tonight by Nigeria’s chief justice.

A number of politicians have begun scrambling for the post of  vice president and this has worsened the already tense atmosphere.

Ma Umaru Yar’adua’s soul rest in peace.