VOA标准英语2010年-New Nigerian President Considering Cho

President Goodluck Jonathan is from southern Nigeria and is expected to nominate a northern politician to maintain the country's regional balance of power.

Scott Stearns | Abuja 08 May 2010 
 Nigeria's acting¹ President Goodluck Jonathan (R) takes the oath of office to become the nation's next leader, at the Presidential villa² in Abuja, 06 May 2010

Nigeria's new president is expected to nominate a new vice³ president in the coming week. That person could quickly become the frontrunner for next year's presidential election under an informal power-sharing deal.

President Goodluck Jonathan's choice as deputy may show what he is thinking about next year's vote.

Mr. Jonathan is from southern Nigeria and is expected to nominate a northern politician to maintain the country's regional balance of power. Northern and southern leaders have an informal arrangement that rotates the presidency⁴ every two terms.

Because Mr. Jonathan is filling out the end of the first term of the late northern president Umaru Yar'Adua, that arrangement would preclude⁵ him from running for president himself. But there is no constitutional provision stopping him, and he has not ruled out doing so.

So if Mr. Jonathan chooses a strong northern vice president, he will be seen as abiding⁶ by that arrangement because that deputy would then become the ruling party's frontrunner. But if Mr. Jonathan chooses a weaker northern vice president, many here will see that as evidence that he is considering his own run for the presidency.

Among those in the group of stronger choices are Senate President David Mark, National Security Advisor⁷ Aliyu Gusau and the man who currently holds Nigeria's third-most powerful post: Secretary to the Government of the Federation⁸ Mamud Ahmed Yayale.

President Jonathan has already started meeting with with former heads of state, governors, and ruling party leaders to discuss the vice presidential post.

Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke says they will help the president in whatever way he thinks best. "As governors, our responsibility is to provide support where necessary. Where there is some consultation⁹, of course we will be glad to provide whatever advice is required," he said.

Former military ruler Yakubu Gowon says the next step in Nigeria's political process should be handled with the same calm as this past week's transfer of power following President Yar'Adua's death.

"This has been done very peacefully and orderly," he said. "Now the tasks and responsibilities for Mr. President are for him to do his best for the country as he has done in the past."

Asked about potential vice presidential choices, Information Minister Dora Akunyili said only that President Jonathan will choose a team in the nation's best interests. "President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will build solidly on the successes of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as promised," he said.

Among those in the group of weaker vice presidential choices are Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Nuhu Ribadu, and the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nasir El-Rufai.

While some members of President Jonathan's team say he will present his choice for approval by the National Assembly as soon as Tuesday, ruling party chairman Vincent Ogbulafor says he believes the selection process will take longer.

"I think it is too early. We will flow with the president, President Goodluck Jonathan, and when he is ready. At least he has declared seven days mourning for President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Let's respect the dead. After that we can now talk of the vice president," he said.

Ogbulafor has said publicly that President Jonathan will not be the next ruling party's nominee¹⁰  because of the regional power-sharing agreement. But Ogbulafor is facing federal corruption¹¹ charges at a time when President Jonathan assumes greater control of the party following Mr. Yar'Adua's death.

Political reforms could weaken the party power of state governors and potentially allow for independent candidates, which would open the way for President Jonathan to run on his own if the ruling party chooses a northern nominee.
 

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 preclude   

vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍

参考例句：

• We try to preclude any possibility of misunderstanding.我们努力排除任何误解的可能性。
• My present finances preclude the possibility of buying a car.按我目前的财务状况我是不可能买车的。

6 abiding   

adj.永久的，持久的，不变的

参考例句：

• He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
• He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

8 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

9 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

10 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

11 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。