Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua an effort to speed up resolution of the Niger Delta Conflict. The cabinet became part of a power struggle within the Nigerian government after Yar'Adua became extremely ill and left Nigeria to seek treatment in Saudi Arabia, without transferring power to Goodluck Johnathan, his vice-president. Johnathan dissolved the cabinet on 17 March 2010 in what "The New York Times" called "the strongest assertion yet of his authority over a country where his rule has been challenged". Motives given for the dissolution of the cabinet were Jonathan's desire to take the government in a new direction as well as fighting within
History of Nigeria firmly" with election fraud and violence advocated by "highly placed individuals." His comments were interpreted by some analysts as a warning to his Vice President and 2007 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. In the 2007 general election, Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, both of the People's Democratic Party, were elected President and Vice President, respectively. The election was marred by electoral fraud, and denounced by other candidates and international observers. Yar'Adua's presidency was fraught with uncertainty as media reports said he suffered from kidney and heart disease. In November 2009, he fell ill and was flown out of the country to