Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. Prior to that, he served as Vice-President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 and as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007.
Background
He was born on 20 November 1957 in Ogbia, Nigeria. His father, Lawrence Ebele Jonathan was a poor canoe maker. His mother Eunice had given birth to several children, but only a few survived their childhood. Therefore his father named him “Goodluck” hoping that this child would change the fortunes of the family.
Education
He received his early education from local Christian primary and secondary schools. Then he studied zoology at the University of Port Harcourt, earning a B.S. in 1981.
A good student, he pursued higher education and completed his M.S. in hydrobiology and fisheries biology in 1985. He received his Ph.D. in zoology in 1995.
While studying at the university he also taught at Rivers State College of Education from 1983 until 1993.
Career
In 1993, he was appointed as an assistant director at the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, a post he held till 1998. By now he had also worked as an education inspector and environmental-protection officer.
He entered politics in the late 1990s when he became involved with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), an emerging political party. Under the party’s banner he was elected deputy governor of Bayelsa state in 1999.
As the deputy governor he worked alongside Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who was selected as the governor of the state. In 2005, the incumbent governor Alamieyeseigha was accused of money laundering in the United Kingdom and thus Jonathan was sworn in as the governor.
In 2007, he was selected to be the vice presidential running mate of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. They were both elected and took their respective offices in May.
As Vice-President he was by statute, a member of the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, the Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council.
As Vice-President, he played an important role in negotiating with militants in the Niger delta, who were fighting against petroleum companies operating in the delta region. In spite of holding such a high office he remained in the political background and maintained a low-profile.
His duties significantly rose in 2010 when the incumbent President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua started suffering from serious health problems. Yar’Adua was often away from the country for his medical treatment and the governance of the country suffered because of this.
Members of Nigeria’s National Assembly voted to have Jonathan assume full powers of the president and serve as the acting president until the incumbent president was able to resume his duties. Thus Jonathan became the Acting President in February 2010.
As the Acting President he asserted his power by reshuffling Yar’Adua’s cabinet. The Labour Minister Prince Adetokunbo Kayode was named Minister of Justice while the incumbent Minister of Justice Mike Aondoakaa was named as the Minister of Special Duties. Jonathan also promised to continue implementing the Seven-point agenda policy framework of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
President Yar’adua died on 5 May, 2010 and Jonathan was sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the following day, thus becoming Nigeria's 14th Head of State.
Jonathan became the president under sad circumstances. Nevertheless, he immediately began his work as the president to bring about more efficient governance. He announced that his administration would focus on the issues of anti-corruption and electoral reforms.
He launched his 'Roadmap for Power Sector Reform in August 2010 in order to achieve stable electricity supply in Nigeria. In October 2011 he launched the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) Initiative for harnessing the creative energies of young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
Achievements
Religion
He is a Christian from the Ijaw ethnic group.
Politics
In 2011, President Jonathan launched the Transformation Agenda. The Agenda is based on a summary of how the Federal Government hopes to deliver projects, programmes, and key priority policies from 2011 to 2015, coordinated by the National Planning Commission (NPC).
On 11 September 2013, President Jonathan sacked the creator and coordinator of the Transformation Agenda, Shamsudeen Usman, the Minister of National Planning, along with eight other cabinet ministers amid a rift in the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
According to President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's foreign policy was reviewed to reflect a "citizen-focused" approach, designed to "accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the highest priority" and connect foreign policy to domestic policy, while placing a greater emphasis on economic diplomacy.
Views
Jonathan's government has largely been described as corrupt. According to The Economist, corruption flourished under the Jonathan administration, "who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity." Large sums of money have been used improperly multiple times, with ₦ 3.98 trillion Naira ($20 billion USD) allegedly going missing and ₦ 398 billion Naira ($2 billion USD) of military funds allegedly dispersed amongst high-ranking officials. In addition, Jonathan was alleged to have personally ordered over ₦ 3 trillion Naira ($15 billion USD) from the Central Bank of Nigeria to support his election and other self-seeking projects under the guise of an intervention fund for national stability. Charles Soludo, a professor of economics and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, equated Jonathan's financial recklessness to that of former Ugandan president Idi Amin. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an economist and former Finance Minister of Nigeria, pegged Jonathan's administration as the main cause of Nigeria's economic woes in a lecture at George Washington University, although she later denied it. None of the corruption allegations against Jonathan have been proven in any law court.
Since May 2015, the Muhammadu Buhari administration reportedly has been fighting corruption that was perpetrated under Jonathan. Some of the former political office holders and appointees that served under Jonathan, as well as party members, have been arrested on various corruption charges. It is alleged that some, including former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman, have returned part of the money they stole. None of these politicians have however been convicted of the alleged crimes. It remains unclear whether or not Jonathan, who is believed to have either masterminded or condoned the corruption, will be arrested.
In 2010 after the Nigerian football team failed to progress beyond the group stage at FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Jonathan declared a two-year ban on the country's national football team from all international competitions and ordered an audit into the way the funds allocated for the team were spent. FIFA, the world football governing body, resisted the investigation and stated that it would expel Nigeria from world football if the government interfered. FIFA called for advice from Amos Adamu, the director general of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, who was sacked in the wake of a corruption scandal. After the world governing body threatened to suspend $8 million due to Nigeria for its participation in the World Cup, Jonathan bowed to pressure and lifted the ban.
Membership
He was a member of Peoples Democratic Party. Also was a fellow of Nigerian International Association Impact Assessment, Institute Public Administrators Nigeria (Best Performing State Deputy Governor award 2002), Nigeria Environmental Society (honorary), a member of Fisheries Society Nigeria and a member of Science Teachers Association Nigeria.
Connections
He is married to Patience Faka and has two children with her. His wife is known nationally and internationally for her philanthropic work and political pragmatism.
Recipient Exemplary Leadership Quality and Good Governance award, National Association Women in Education Development, 2003, Honorary Democracy and Good Governance award, NUJ Abuja Council.
Recipient Exemplary Leadership Quality and Good Governance award, National Association Women in Education Development, 2003, Honorary Democracy and Good Governance award, NUJ Abuja Council.