Maybe the country needs a 25th amendment.

Nigeria’s new chief justice has been sworn in in the absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is in hospital in Saudi Arabia with a heart condition.

A lawyer has told the BBC that the appointment of Aloysius Katsina-Alu is illegal, as only the president has the power to take his oath of office.

Instead, the ceremony was presided over by outgoing chief justice Idris Legbo Kutigi.

There have been several calls for Mr Yar’Adua to resign over his ill-health.

Senior lawyer Bamidele Aturu told the BBC that the constitution makes it clear that the chief justice can only be sworn in by the president.

“This means the legality of the appointment is in question and people can go to court and challenge it,” he said.- BBC

Honestly, a government needs to have procedures in place in case its ruler becomes incapacitated. Some how I suspect the less than democratic nature of most governments in Africa is the root cause of the present situation in Nigeria. Undemocratic leaders know their rule lacks legitimacy, and they fear the citizenry or another politician will topple them. Umaru Yar’Adua’s election in 2007 was very controversial.