VOA标准英语2010年-Jonathan Sworn in as New Nigerian Pres

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, Nigeria, 06 May 2010

Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria's new president. He was sworn in Thursday, hours after the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

It was a somber³ swearing-in for the new president, who has been running the country for several months because of the late president's prolonged medical absence.

"I, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, do solemnly swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance  to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

President Jonathan promised to abide⁴ by all laws and rule always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity⁵, well-being⁶, and prosperity of Nigeria.

"I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions," said Mr. Jonathan.

President Yar'Adua died in Abuja late Wednesday at the age of 58, ten weeks after returning from medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for enlarged membranes⁷ around his heart.

 

President Jonathan says he received the news of Mr. Yar'Adua's death with a deep sense of loss and profound sorrow, saying he has lost not only a boss but a brother.

"Having taken the oath of office in line with the Nigerian constitution under these very sad and unusual circumstances, I urge all fellow citizens to remain steadfast⁸ and committed to the values and aspirations⁹ of our nation," he said.

In the midst of what he says is great adversity, President Jonathan says Nigerians must work to uphold the values that Mr. Yar'Adua represented.

"President Yar'Adua's contribution to political development and good governance will never be forgotten and will therefore always occupy a pride of place in the political history of our dear nation," said Mr. Jonathan.  "He was a man of great personal integrity, deep devotion to God, and outstanding humility¹⁰."

Mr. Jonathan says the late president's commitment to good governance, fighting corruption¹¹, and enacting¹² electoral reform will be pursued with even greater vigor¹³.

"We must enshrine the best standards in our democratic practice," he said.  "One of the true tests will be to ensure that all votes count and are counted in the upcoming general elections."

Next year's elections are dividing the ruling People's Democratic Party because President Jonathan has not ruled out running for his own mandate¹⁴. He is from southern Nigeria.

Ruling party chairman Vincent Ogbulafor says the next candidate should be from northern Nigeria in keeping with an informal power-sharing agreement that rotates the presidency¹⁵ between the mainly-Muslim north and largely-Christian south every two terms.

 

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 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

4 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

5 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

6 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

7 membranes   

n.（动物或植物体内的）薄膜( membrane的名词复数 )；隔膜；（可起防水、防风等作用的）膜状物

参考例句：

• The waste material is placed in cells with permeable membranes. 废液置于有渗透膜的槽中。 来自辞典例句
• The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a system of intracellular membranes. 肌浆网属于细胞内膜系统。 来自辞典例句

8 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

9 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

10 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

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。

12 enacting   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Generally these statutes apply only to wastes from reactors outside the enacting state. 总之，这些法令只适宜用在对付那些来自外州的核废料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• In addition, the complexion of enacting standards for live working is described. 另外，介绍了带电作业标准的制订情况。

13 vigor   

n.活力，精力，元气

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。

14 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

15 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。