Jonathan Becomes Acting Nigerian President

Nigeria's parliament has voted to appoint Vice President Goodluck Jonathan act as head of state, easing two months of uncertainty following President Umaru Yar’Adua’s continued absence due to illness.

Jonathan informed Nigerians of the house decision in a live address Tuesday night and called for national unity in the nation of 150 Christians, Muslims and diverse ethnic groups often grouped as either ‘Northerners’ and Southerners’.

Both the Nigerian House of Representatives and the Senate empowered Jonathan to act as president and commander in chief until Yar'Adua, who has been hospitalised in Saudi Arabia since November 2009 with a heart ailment, returns to resume office.

Jonathan also implored Nigerians to continue praying for President Yar'Adua’s recovery but is unclear just how ill Yar'Adua is or when he is likely to return. [PE]