Unprecedented is how the BBC described the efforts of Nigeria’s political elites to address the leadership vacuum that culminated in the passing of separate but almost identical resolutions by the Senate and House of Representatives declaring that Jonathan Goodluck is officially the acting President of Nigeria.

The resolutions which were near unanimous declarations of the National Assembly state that Jonathan Goodluck “shall henceforth discharge the functions of the office of president, commander-in- chief of the armed forces of the federation, as acting president”.

According to the National Assembly, Umaru Yar’Adua’s interview with the BBC where he declared publicly to the world his incapacitation to act as president and that he did not know when he would be discharged from hospital, satisfied the requirements of Section 145 of the Constitution.

These efforts came after 78 continuous days of the absence of Umaru Yar’Adua and mounting agitations by Nigerians from all works of life for a handover of power to the Vice President to enable the power vacuum to be filled as Nigeria was beginning to drift towards a state of disorder.
Some have questioned the legality of the actions taken by the National Assembly, wondering whether the hospital declaration of incapacity by Umaru Yar’Adua satisfies the need for a written declaration to be transmitted to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

That the declaration was oral is besides the point especially as the Federal High Court had already ruled that Umaru Yar’Adua had a discretion whether or not to inform the leaders of the National Assembly that he was proceeding on vacation or had become incapacitated.

Having opted to exercise that discretion through a declaration made on an international radio station the National Assembly has also opted to accept such a declaration as satisfying the requirements of Section 145 of the Constitution.

When it comes to the exercise of his discretionary rights it is only Umaru Yar’Adua who can challenge the propriety or otherwise of what the National Assembly has done and until he does that there is a presumption of regularity regarding this unprecedented and near unanimous act.

Even if the energizers of the Umaru Yar’Adua presidency decide that they want to challenge the actions of the National Assembly they will be up against Michael Kase Aondoakaa who will now be the one defending the Jonathan Goodluck presidency.

As for Umaru Yar’Adua all hope of regaining the position of president is not yet lost as the National Assembly has left the door open for his return on the condition that he has recovered sufficiently from his various ailments to steer the ship of state, so Turai Yar’Adua has her task cut out for her.

As for Jonathan Goodluck, yes his political life has been characterized by a massive doze of good luck but Nigeria requires urgent action to address its numerous challenges such as debilitating poverty, dilapidated infrastructure, religious and sectarian crisis, and scarcity of petroleum products.

Other challenges include epileptic or near absence of public power supply, urgent development of the Niger Delta, overhauling of our electoral laws including INEC, and preparations for 2011 General Elections among others.

These challenges are enough to scare anyone especially when the person is in an acting capacity but then Jonathan Goodluck understands what has happened in the last 78 days and should approach these challenges with the mindset that each day he acts as president may be his last day in that office.

He should remember that a man who has not got long to live does not have the luxury of thinking long thoughts or being distracted by unimportant things but is focused on doing the needful and maximizing the time he has left on earth, this should be the modus operandi of Jonathan Goodluck

He should use the opportunity he has to make a mark in history like Abdusalam Mohammed who today is recognized as an international statesman for arranging even what many regard as a flawed transition from military to democratic rule, or like Murtala Mohammed whose still stands fresh in our memories.

In discharging the duties of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Jonathan Goodluck should be guided by God who stood with him all through this period of uncertainty and he must not harbor any bitterness or ill-will against those who opposed his becoming acting president.