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Goodluck Jonathan

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)[1] was the President of Nigeria (5 May 2010 - 29 May 2015). He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and became the Vice President of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which is in power as of September 2010. On 13 January 2010, a federal court gave him the power to carry out state affairs while President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was being taken care of in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. On 24 February 2010, Yar'Adua came back to Nigeria, but Jonathan kept the President's power .[2] Yar'Adua died on 5 May 2010, and Jonathan officially became the President. He took the oath of office the next day.[3]

Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan World Economic Forum 2013.jpg
President of Nigeria
In office
6 May 2010 – 29 May 2015
Vice PresidentNamadi Sambo
Preceded byUmaru Yar'Adua
Succeeded byMuhammadu Buhari
Vice President of Nigeria
In office
29 May 2007 – 6 May 2010
PresidentUmaru Yar'Adua
Preceded byAtiku Abubakar
Succeeded byNamadi Sambo
Governor of Bayelsa
In office
9 December 2005 – 29 May 2007
Preceded byDiepreye Alamieyeseigha
Succeeded byTimipre Sylva
Personal details
Born
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan

(1957-11-20) 20 November 1957 (age 67)
Ogbia, Nigeria
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party
Spouse(s)Patience Faka
Alma materUniversity of Port Harcourt

Jonathan's term as President of Nigeria ended on 29 May 2015, when he handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Early life, education and personal life

Jonathan was born in Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area in Nigeria to a family of canoe makers.[1][4] He has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Zoology. He also holds an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology/Fisheries biology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt. After he got his degree, he worked as an education inspector, lecturer, and environmental-protection officer, until he decided to become a politician in 1998.[5]

Jonathan is married to Patience Faka Jonathan and has two children.[6] Jonathan is a member of the Ijaw ethnic group.[7]

Among his children include Ariwera Jonathan, Aruabi Jonathan, and Ariwera Jonathan is the name of his son whom was rumored to be dead five years ago in London but his father refuted the claims and labelled it as false even though he took ill and was admitted at the hospital.

Early political career

Bayelsa State governorship

Jonathan began his career in politics in 1998, having joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998.[4] Jonathan, who had been the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, succeeded Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom. In September 2006, Jonathan's wife was indicted by the nation's anti-crime agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for crimes related to money laundering.[8]

Presidential race

In December 2006, Jonathan was chosen as running mate to Umaru Yar'Adua for the PDP presidential ticket in the April 2007 election.[9] On 20 April 2007, shortly before the presidential election, there was a violent attack from militants. The police said that people had tried to kill Jonathan. However, this did not end up happening.[10]

Vice Presidency

Following the PDP's election win, which some people did not think was fair, militants blew up Jonathan's country house in Otu-Eke, Bayelsa State on 16 May; two policemen were killed in the attack. Jonathan was not there at the time.[11]

Acting President

President Umaru Yar'Adua left Nigeria on 23 November 2009 for medical treatment. He did not make plans for anyone to take over his duties. On 13 January 2010, a federal court handed Vice-President Jonathan the power to carry out state affairs in the president's continued absence. On 22 January 2010, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had 14 days to decide whether President Yar'Adua "is incapable of discharging the functions of his office". In a nationwide address in February 2010, Jonathan called on all Nigerians to set aside religious and ethnic differences to work together for the common good. Jonathan said "The events of the recent past have put to a test our collective resolve as a democratic nation," "I am delighted to know that our nation has demonstrated resilience and unity of purpose.[4]

On 9 February 2010, the Senate decided that presidential power should be given to the Vice President. He was appointed to serve as Acting President, with all the accompanying powers, until when and if Yar'Adua returned to full health. The power transfer was called a "coup without the word" by opposition lawyers and lawmakers.[12] The Nigerian Constitution requires a written letter from the President stating he is unable to serve or that the cabinet sends a medical team to examine him but this provision has not apparently been fulfilled leaving some doubts as to the constitutionality of the action.[13]

Presidency

Yar'Adua died on 5 May 2010. Jonathan was sworn in as Yar'Adua's replacement on 6 May 2010,[14] becoming Nigeria's 14th Head of State. He will serve as President until the next election. Upon taking office, Jonathan cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reform were what he wanted to focus on as President.[15] He stated that he came to office under "very sad and unusual circumstances."[16]

On 18 May 2010, the National Assembly approved President Goodluck Jonathan's nomination of former Kaduna State governor, Namadi Sambo, an architect, for the position of Vice President.[17][18]

World Cup controversy

After the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, in which the Nigerian side failed to advance beyond group stage, Jonathan said that the national team could no longer play international matches. FIFA objected to the president's decision and threatened to kick Nigeria out of the association. After this, Jonathan ended the ban.[19]

Re-election

Jonathan was re-elected in April 2011 in an election that some experts said may have been the most fair election in Nigerian history.[20]

Goodluck Jonathan Media

  • Jonathan with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014

  • Outgoing President Jonathan in handshake with newly sworn in President Muhammadu Buhari at Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria, on 29 May 2015

  • Order of the Federal Republic (civil) - Nigeria - ribbon bar

  • Ribbon bar of the Order of the Niger

  • Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis BAR

Related pages

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lawson Heyford, "Jonathan: A Colossus at 49" Archived 2009-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, The Source (Lagos), 11 December 2006
  2. ↑ Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan 'is acting president'. BBC. February 25, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8537718.stm. Retrieved February 25, 2010. 
  3. ↑ "Goodluck Jonathan sworn in as Nigerian president". the Guardian. 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Profile: Goodluck Jonathan". www.aljazeera.com.
  5. ↑ Profile: Goodluck Jonathan. BBC News. 6 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8510390.stm. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  6. ↑ "Money Laundering: I'm Not Involved, Says Bayelsa Governor". Thisday, via EFCCNigeria.org (Leaders & Company). 2006-09-12. http://www.efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1026&Itemid=2. Retrieved 2007-09-22. 
  7. ↑ Profile: Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's unlikely leader. BBC. February 22, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8510390.stm. Retrieved February 22, 2010. 
  8. ↑ By Gilbert da Costa / Abuja Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 (2010-02-13). Is Goodluck Jonathan the Answer to Nigeria's Woes?. TIME. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1964192,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-05. 
  9. ↑ Tom Ashby, "Reclusive Yar'Adua wins ruling party ticket", Reuters (IOL), 17 December 2006.
  10. ↑ "Attacks seek to derail Nigeria poll", Al Jazeera, 21 April 2007.
  11. ↑ "Militants attack Nigerian VP's home" Archived 2006-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, AFP (IOL), 16 May 2007.
  12. ↑ Nigeria's VP takes over from ailing president Archived 2010-02-13 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, Ola Awoniyi, February 10, 2010
  13. ↑ Nigeria's new president Good luck, Jonathan, The Economist, Feb 11th 2010
  14. ↑ News Agency of Nigeria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuggEWp6KMw,nowPresident,Commander-In-Chief.aspx
  15. ↑ Adigun, Bashir (6 May 2010). Goodluck Jonathan sworn in as Nigerian president. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100509151233/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hW8uWhgiqtcuunO2WIHnk8o2iw6gD9FH8CAO3. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  16. ↑ "Nigeria swears in new president". Al-Jazeera. 6 May 2010. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/05/20105681641917266.html. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  17. ↑ Punch Newspaper "NASS confirms Sambo as vice president" http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201005185541038 Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ Liberty News "National Assembly confirms Sambo as Vice President" http://www.myondostate.com/myondostate/newssend.php?id=203 Archived 2011-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33505
  20. ↑ Nossiter, Adam (18 April 2011). Nigeria's President Wins Re-Election. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/world/africa/19nigeria.html. 
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