President’s Death ‘Clarion Call’ for Politicians to do Good, says Nigerian Archbishop
 

(06 May 10 – RV) President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria died Wednesday night after a long illness.

Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been acting president since last February, was sworn in officially on Thursday.

John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, reacted to the death of the President on several levels.

He told Vatican Radio the death was a “clarion call” for all politicians that everyone’s time on earth is limited, and they should do what good they can.

He also looked to the future of Nigeria.

“With the death of Yar'Adua, the political climate has the possibility of clarifying itself a little bit better,” he said.

“We have been going through the last months with things not very clear.  The clarity will then depend on how the political class, the leadership, decides to move.”

The Archbishop says he hopes “the sense of seriousness and urgency will enter the management of national affairs.”

Archbishop Onaiyekan also offered his prayers to the new president.

“Many Nigerians would hope the more than one year of the term of this administration, would move fast to tackle many of the issues that unfortunately we were not handled in the last 6 months.”

Listen to full interview: