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Acting President Goodluck Jonathan Succeeds Umaru YarâAdua in Nigeria Howard Lesser 06 May 2010 Nigeria's acting President Goodluck Jonathan (R) takes the oath of office to become the nation's next leader, at the Presidential villa in Abuja, Nigeria, 06 May 2010 Photo: AP Nigeria's acting President Goodluck Jonathan (R) takes the oath of office to become the nation's next leader, at the Presidential villa in Abuja, Nigeria, 06 May 2010 For many Nigerians, Thursdayâs swearing-in ceremonies for President Goodluck Jonathan restored some normalcy to what has been a highly erratic chapter in their struggle to perpetuate democratic rule. From the capital Abuja, human rights attorney Emmanuel Ogebe says Mr. Jonathan must overcome serious hurdles to secure his own candidacy for next yearâs Nigeria presidential campaign. Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan, right, is installed as the country's new leader at a swearing in ceremony in Abuja, 06 May 2010 AP Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan, right, is installed as the country's new leader at a swearing in ceremony in Abuja, 06 May 2010 âThe first clear problem is who will be his vice president, and the constitution requires that he nominate a candidate who will be confirmed by the Senate â the National Assembly. The problem is like his cabinet, he might be held hostage by the governors, by the ruling party, or many other interests because he has to balance to pick a Muslim from the north,â said Ogebe. The body of Nigeria's late President Umaru Yar'Adua is brought to a plane to be transported for burial in his home state of Katsina, at the airport in Abuja, 06 May 2010 AP The body of Nigeria's late President Umaru Yar'Adua is brought to a plane to be transported for burial in his home state of Katsina, at the airport in Abuja. He died on Wednesday in Abuja after a long battle with heart and kidney disease, 06 May 2010 President Umaru YarâAduaâs lengthy medical decline may have helped prepare the nation for a relatively smooth transition without any street violence during yesterdayâs funeral and inaugural ceremonies.  But, it is not clear how long Mr. Jonathan, a southerner from the Niger Delta, will be able to assert party discipline within the ruling Peopleâs Democratic Party (PDP). Nigerian President Yar'Adua (C), Vice President of Nigeria Goodluck (R), shakes hands with Ekpemupolo head of MEND (L) in Abuja on October 9, 2009 AP President Yar'Adua (C), flanked by then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan (R), shakes hands with Government Ekpemupolo (L), commander of rebel group MEND, during their meeting in Abuja on 09 October 2009. Traditionally, the PDP has run on a consensus allowing power to alternate between northern leaders for two eight-year terms and then southern leaders.  A Goodluck Jonathan second-term presidency would break that pattern, much to the disappointment of several northern PDP stalwarts who had backed President YarâAdua, a former northern governor of Nigeriaâs Katsina state. Emmanuel Ogebe says Mr. Jonathan has a 10 month timetable to line up his supporters and find a suitable second-in-command who will not undercut his own candidacy. âHe needs somebody who he can work with. Now if you foist someone on him that will have conflicts with him, then you are going to have a real succession problem, especially if the new vice president is interested in running (for president) in 11 monthsâ time,â he pointed out. Vice President Joe Biden welcomes Nigeria' acting President Goodluck Jonathan to the Naval Observatory in Washington, 12 Apr 2010 AP Vice President Joe Biden welcomes Nigeria' acting President to the Naval Observatory during Mr. Jonathan's recent visit to Washington, 12 Apr 2010 In President Jonathanâs favor, a recent visit to the United States allowed him to conclude an important binational treaty with the Obama administration and, upon his return home, he secured the ouster of Independent Electoral Commission Chairman Maurice Iwu, another move toward democratization that was recommended by officials in Washington. In addition, Ogebe says Nigerians have finally found relief after being frustrated during the past few months by Mr. YarâAduaâs closest advisers and family members, who they felt were not sharing their concerns about the Presidentâs incapacitation to serve. âI think that the arrowhead for the cabal who were playing the game of âThe Wizard of Ozâ and cat-and-mouse with the Nigerian people has been dislodged. There were some members of that gang who were in the cabinet and who were kicked out. But, there were some who were not in the cabinet and who still continue to hold influence within the villa. I think those people will have to pack their bags and leave, and I think that the president (Mr. Jonathan) will actually have a lot more breathing space to clean house and move forward,â he said. 58-year old Umaru YarâAdua is not the first Nigerian leader to die in office, but he is the first democratically elected president whose term was cut short by death. Earlier departures included head of state General Murtala Mohammed, who enjoyed widespread popularity, but was assassinated in 1976, and military ruler General Sani Abacha, who died in office, reportedly of a heart attack at the age of 54 in 1998. .