Goodluck Jonathan

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Goodluck Jonathan
President of Nigeria
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 February 2010 Acting: 9 February 2010 – 6 May 2010
Vice President	Namadi Sambo
Preceded by	Umaru Yar'Adua
Vice President of Nigeria
In office 29 May 2007 – 6 May 2010
President	Umaru Yar'Adua
Preceded by	Atiku Abubakar
Succeeded by	Namadi Sambo
Governor of Bayelsa
In office 9 December 2005 – 28 May 2007
Preceded by	Diepreye Alamieyeseigha
Succeeded by	Timipre Sylva
Personal details
Born	(1957-11-20) 20 November 1957 (age 54) Ogbia, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Patience Jonathan
Alma mater	University of Port Harcourt
Profession	Zoologist
Religion	Christianity

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON (born 20 November 1957^[1]) is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria. Prior to his role as President, he served as Governor of Bayela State and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Early and personal life

Jonathan was born in what is now Bayelsa State to a family of canoe makers.^[1][2] Jonathan holds a B.S. degree in Zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours. He also holds an M.Sc. degree in Hydrobiology and Fisheries biology, and a Ph.D. degree in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt. After earning his degree, he worked as an education inspector, lecturer, and environmental-protection officer, until he decided to enter politics in 1998.^[3]

Jonathan and his wife, Patience, have two children. He is a Christian and comes from the Ijaw ethnic group.^[4]

Presidency

Jonathan (fifth from right) standing with other world leaders at a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States in July 2010.

Former President Umaru Yar'Adua died on 5 May 2010. Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as Yar'Adua's successor on the following day,^[5] becoming Nigeria's 14th Head of State, to serve until the next election, in 2011, at which time he could elect to run again, which he has done. Upon taking office, he cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reform as focuses of his administration. He stated that he came to office under "very sad and unusual circumstances".^[6]

On 18 May 2010, the National Assembly approved Jonathan's nomination of former Kaduna State governor, Namadi Sambo, an architect, for the position of Vice President.^[7][8]

On 29 June 2010, Jonathan launched a Facebook fan-page;^[9] The president said that he launched his page in fulfillment of a promise he made earlier in the year to interact more with Nigerians.

On 2 August 2010 Jonathan launched a comprehensive plan, called the 'Roadmap for Power Sector Reform‘,^[10] aimed at restructuring the power sector and achieving stable electricity in the country. In his speech, the President identified the factors that affected reliable electricity service delivery to include the absence of a sustained and deliberately deployed long term power development strategy, under exploitation of the nation’s abundant energy endowments and the absence of adequate implementation of reforms.

2011 election

On 15 September 2010, Jonathan, in a message on his Facebook Page, said he had finally decided to run for the presidency after wide consultations with various organisations across the country. This single action of his made him the first ever sitting president to declare his re-election bid via social media.^[11] The move came under scrutiny, as it was a northern Muslim candidate's turn to run for the presidency.

On 20 December, he flagged off the national book campaign called 'Bring Back The Book',^[12] and presented his book, My Friends and I: conversations on policy and governance via Facebook to the public. He declared that the fight to bring back the book should be supported by all Nigerians, as the project provided Nigeria a sure path to technological growth. He further said that his government was encouraging a culture of catch-them-young so as to secure the future of the children.

On 14 January, President Jonathan was chosen to run for president by the People's Democratic Party during the election. He won with 77.7% of valid votes cast.^[13][14] On 18 April, Jonathan was declared the winner of the election. His victory was, however, followed by violence in the north over claims of vote rigging.^[15]

Controversies

Ministerial nominations and appointments

In 2011, the Nigerian President failed to nominate and appoint at least 36 indigenes (one for each of the 36 states). This is in breach of article 147 subsection (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999: "...the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State".^[16]

The President can be taken to constitutional court in Nigeria for noncompliance with Article 147(3) of the constitution.

Removal of fuel subsidy

On 13 December 2011, the 2012 fiscal year's budget removed any provisions for fuel subsidy.^[17] The issue of fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria has always been a controversial topic. According to a poll carried out by the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE- Nigeria), 80% of Nigerians opposed the plan to remove fuel subsidy.^[18]

On 1 January 2012, the Jonathan administration announced the start of a controversial plan to end fuel subsidies.^[19] Many prominent Nigerians have spoken out against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration. Former Petroleum Minister Professor Tam David-West has spoken out and expressed concern that the planned removal of fuel subsidy will squeeze the economy, increase inflation, and hurt both businesses and the public.^[20]

A former military Head of State and a former Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, General Buhari, urged President Jonathan not to remove fuel subsidy and to tackle corruption.^[21]

General Yakubu Gowon, another former military Head of State, has warned the government that the country's infrastructure should be revived before fuel subsidy removal steps are taken.^[22]

Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, joined millions of Nigerians protesting against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration, saying that the action is ill-timed.^[23]

Following the The Nigeria Labour Congress' warning that the country faces many strikes, the country unions followed up with strikes that were matched with civil protests from 9–13 January 2012. Protesters and groups called for President Jonathan to resign over the removal of fuel subsidies.^[24][25] After five days of national protests and strikes, on 16 January, Jonathan announced that the pump price of petroleum would be 97 naira per liter.^[26]

1st October 2010 Independence Day Bomb Blast

During his South African magistrate court trial on 2 May 2012, MEND's (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) former leader Henry Okah came out and insisted that President Jonathan masterminded bomb attacks. He told the court that President Jonathan and his aides organised the October 1, 2010 independence day bomb attacks in Abuja in a desperate political strategy to demonize political opponents, including the former military President General Ibrahim Babangida, and to win popular sympathy ahead of the 2011 elections.^[27]

The Nigerian Presidency has denied the allegations of terrorism levelled against President Jonathan. A media statement was issued on 2 May 2012, acknowledging the accusations from Okah. The statement went on to say that: “The Presidency categorically affirms that these allegations are false in their entirety and without any factual foundation." The Presidency also expressed no interest in commenting further for the time being, but plans to "make a full representation on the matter to the court when the trial opens."^[28][29]

Security challenges

On 26 August 2011, after the UN building in Abuja was bombed by Boko Haram, Jonathan announced that it was not merely an attack on Nigeria, but on the international community. He told reporters that "we would work together with the UN and other world leaders to ensure that terrorism is brought under control.^[30] On Christmas Day, after a church as bombed and more violence occurred in the north, Jonathan came in for more criticism over the security challenge in the country. Further attacks occurred on Christmas and in early January 2012, claimed by Boko Haram.

In addition to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta's attack on a oil pipeline on 4 February 2012 in Bayelsa,^[31] the Senate President David Mark stated that the security situation in the country is "intolerable."^[32]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Goodluck Jonathan

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v t e Presidents of Nigeria (List) First Republic Azikiwe Military regime Aguiyi-Ironsi Gowon Mohammed Obasanjo Second Republic Shagari Military regime Buhari Babangida Shonekan (interim)* Abacha Abubakar Fourth Republic Obasanjo Yar'Adua Jonathan * civilian; headed transition to abortive Third Republic

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v t e Vice Presidents of Nigeria Babafemi Ogundipe† Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey† Olusegun Obasanjo† Shehu Musa Yar'Adua† Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme Tunde Idiagbon† Ebitu Ukiwe† Augustus Aikhomu† Oladipo Diya† Mike Akhigbe† Atiku Abubakar Goodluck Jonathan Namadi Sambo † military