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Nigeria President Umaru Yar'Adua died Wednesday night.
Early Thursday, the president's office confirmed media reports that the president, who had been sick and virtually incommunicado for several months, had died late the previous night.
"President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is dead. He passed away on Wednesday night in the Presidential Villa, Abuja," Jonathan's spokesman, Ima Niboro said in the statement.
The President of Africa's most populous nation died after more than five months battling a heart ailment, a condition that in November took him to Saudi Arabia for treatment at a Jeddah hospital.
Now Jonathan, under the terms of the constitution, will be sworn in as the new president.
In a statement, the new president declared seven days of mourning.
Yar'Adua will be buried in his northern Katsina State on Thursday, which had been declared a work-free day, Niboro said.
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua, was the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007.
He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2007. He was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party.
Nigeria President Umaru Yar'Adua died Wednesday night.
Early Thursday, the president's office confirmed media reports that the president, who had been sick and virtually incommunicado for several months, had died late the previous night.
"President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is dead. He passed away on Wednesday night in the Presidential Villa, Abuja," Jonathan's spokesman, Ima Niboro said in the statement.
The President of Africa's most populous nation died after more than five months battling a heart ailment, a condition that in November took him to Saudi Arabia for treatment at a Jeddah hospital.
Now Jonathan, under the terms of the constitution, will be sworn in as the new president.
In a statement, the new president declared seven days of mourning.
Yar'Adua will be buried in his northern Katsina State on Thursday, which had been declared a work-free day, Niboro said.
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua, was the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007.
He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2007. He was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party.
