Abuja — Acting President Goodluck Jonathan was on Tuesday elected Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by the group's Heads of State and Government.

The 37th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS in Abuja also appointed a Ghanaian, Victor Beyu, to replace Mohammed Ibn Chambas as ECOWAS Commission President.

Chambas moves on to become the Secretary of the African Caribbean Commission. Beyu will serve till December 2010. The summit asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to rescind its ban on Togo.

Jonathan urged ECOWAS member countries to promote democracy because military coups subvert the peoples' right. He noted that ECOWAS countries voiced out their disapproval of military intervention in Guinea, as ECOWAS "was left with no choice but to suspend Guinea until the restoration of constitutional order."

Jonathan expressed gratitude to ECOWAS nations for their "great show of goodwill and true African kinship" to President Umaru Yar'Adua who, due to ill health, could not host the summit in person.

Nigeria will not condone "political misadventures" in the sub region, he warned, and condemned the Niger Republic for its actions which he said breach ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

Jonathan pledged that Nigeria will continue to support the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, as experts have established a link between both crimes.

He reiterated Nigeria's resolved to work with other countries on regional integration, currency, security, and trade. He observed that economic growth in ECOWAS is on the decline, caused by the global meltdown, which makes integration imperative.

Nonetheless, Chambas said the region will see economic recovery this year, predicting growth from 4.4 per cent to 4.7 per cent, since programmes are directed at promoting economic growth, poverty reduction, and political stability.

With good governance, Chambas maintained, West Africa will move closer to its development goals, but warned the region to remain vigilant against military coups.

But back home and strictly on Nigerian matters, the Elders Council of the Northern Union (NU) on Tuesday urged Jonathan to concentrate on 10 areas vital to national development to impact positively on the lives of citizens.

These are electoral reform, post amnesty programme, power sector, dredging the River Niger, assent to the Hydro-electric Power Production Areas Commission (HYPPADEC) Bill, and strengthening anti-graft agencies.

Others include exploration of hydrocarbons in the North, completion of Ajaokuta Steel project, the revival of refineries, and the development of solid minerals.

The NU met in Abuja, where it expressed support for Jonathan, who it said should exercise powers conferred on him by the Constitution in the absence of Yar'Adua.

A statement issued by NU Chairman, Olusola Saraki, commended the National Assembly (NASS) for ending the impasse caused by the absence of Yar'Adua on medical ground.

Jonathan's elevation, the NU noted, is in tandem with the resolution at its meeting with South South leaders.

It promised to support him to discharge the duties of the President.

"All political parties and leaders, opinion leaders, interest groups and the media, should keep the polity calm and exercise utmost restraint in public statements, report and comments," the NU counselled.

"This period in our national life requires sobriety and deep reflection, not inflammatory and sensational utterances."

However, the National Coalition for Greater Nigeria passed a vote of no confidence in Ministers appointed by Yar'Adua, and urged Jonathan to reconstitute the cabinet.

Leader of the group, Taiye Garrick, told journalists in Abuja that the legislature could also be empowered through the activation of Section 145 of the Constitution to set up a medical board that would ascertain Yar'Adua's health.