In a turn of events that seems all too much like it could be the potential for a Hollywood film- Umaru Yar'Adua finally took the big sleep May 5th 2010 . After an extended medical leave in Saudi Arabia that started in late November 2009 and lasted just over four months due to kidney and heart problems, Yar'Adua returned to the chaotic country in still declining health.
His sick leave was plagued by superstition and rumors of conspiracy, for the undefined measures to be taken in the case of an absent president left the Nigerian legislature confused and unsure of what to do. Some felt that it was a secretive arrangement set up before the election to continue previous leader Obasanjo's reign with his god-son and Yar'Adua's vice president Goodluck Jonathan. Continued suspicion arose when Yar'Adua's wife shielded the sick president from view once he returned to the country in late February. However; all was worked out. Fears of an unstable country rocking apart by the absence of president were resolved when Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as acting president February 9th, 2010. The country has remained no less stable since.
Although Yar'Adua's presidency was cut short, the 59 year old Katsina native accomplished much throughout his time in Nigerian politics. In 1999 he was elected governor of Katsina state and just 8 short years later he was nominated as the presidential candidate for the Nigerian People's Democratic Party. As president Yar'Adua was the first president handed the position by a civilian incumbent rather than a military one. He continued liberal economic policies, harsher tactics to relieve the country of corruption, and most notably gave his support to the groups pushing for the emancipation of the niger delta.
