Nigeria’s Acting Leader Unveils Cabinet Nominees

Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has released his list of cabinet nominees, which retains only seven of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s former ministers and includes the president’s nephew, Murtala Yar’Adua.

Jonathan dissolved the cabinet earlier this month, having stepped in as the country’s acting leader following President Yar’Adua’s incapacitation late last year.

Murtala is the eldest son of the President Yar’Adua’s late older brother, Shehu Yar’Adua, who was Nigeria’s vice president between 1976 and 1979. His selection is seen as an effort to either placate the first family or to prepare him for future political responsibility.
Nigeria’s senate has to approve the nominees before the acting president can formally swear the ministers into office. [PE]