"In Africa?"

Newspapers, new programs, magazines and Internet news sources are all filled with stories regarding the plight of those living throughout Africa. Stories range from issues concerning hunger, drought, famine, flooding, political unrest, and so on. But something that didn’t make the headlines -- at least not in a big way -- was in fact a big story: the peaceful transition of power in Africa’s most populated nation, Nigeria.

According to CNN, Goodluck Jonathan (that’s his name) was sworn in as Nigeria's acting president a few days ago just hours after it was reported that the nation’s elected leader, Umaru Yar'Adua, had died after a long illness.

U.S. President Barack Obama praised the efforts of President Yar'Adua in promoting “peace and stability in Africa through his support of Nigerian peacekeeping efforts as well as his strong criticism of undemocratic actions in the region.”

Perhaps Yar'Adua’s greatest legacy, however, is the ability of his country to continue on after his death without any sign of a planned coup d’etat or other political unrest. Many countries in other parts of the world take such things for granted. Perhaps in light of Nigeria’s accomplishment, it may soon be taken for granted in Africa as well.