President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Was Born In November 20 1957, Ogbia Nigeria.what is now Bayelsa state to a family of canoe makers.Jonathan holds a B.S.C degree in ZOOLOGY in which he came out with Second class Honours He holds an M.S.C. degree in HYDROBIOLOGY and FISHERY BIOLOGY and a PHD degree in Zoology from the UNIVERSITY OF PORTHACOURT . During his university education, he also taught at Rivers State College of Education from 1983 until 1993. He then served as an assistant director at the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, a now defunct government agency, from 1993 until 1998.
Jonathan Goodluck’s political career began when he became involved with the nascent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the late 1990s. He was elected deputy governor of
Bayelsa state in 1999 under the party’s banner. He served in the position until year 2005, when he was elevated to the governorship after the incumbent was charged with corruption and impeached. In 2007 he was selected to be the vice presidential running mate of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He and Yar’Adua were elected in April and inaugurated in May. He became vice-president of Nigeria in the year 2007.
Bayelsa state in 1999 under the party’s banner. He served in the position until year 2005, when he was elevated to the governorship after the incumbent was charged with corruption and impeached. In 2007 he was selected to be the vice presidential running mate of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He and Yar’Adua were elected in April and inaugurated in May. He became vice-president of Nigeria in the year 2007.
Before he entered politics in 1998, he worked as an education inspector, lecturer, and environmental-protection officer.Jonathan and his wife Patience have two children. He is a Christian and he comes from the Ijaw ethnic group. He was the Governor of Bayelsa State from Dec 9, 2005 to May 28, 2007, and was sworn in as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 07. He became the official President of Nigeria in May 6,year 2010,This comes as the nation prepares to bury its former leader Umaru Yar’Adua who died on the 5th of May 2010, after a prolonged illness that saw his Vice-President stepped in to his shoes as Acting President. There had been tension in the country as rival political groups fight to assert authority in what was seen as a power vacuum during the period of the illness of Yar’Adua.
, 2010 as President, Commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the passing away of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010. On May 29, 2011, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan took oath as President and Commander in Chief, after his victory in the 2011 Presidential election.
Dr. Jonathan has received several local and international awards. He was voted the ‘Best performing Deputy Governor’ in 2002 by IPAN, given the ‘Democracy and Good Governance Award’ by Nigeria Union of Journalists in 2004. The Africa International News magazine league conferred on him the ‘Niger Delta Development Award’; the Nigerian Bar Association, the ‘Distinguished Personality’ award in 2006, and the All African Students Union in South Africa, the ‘Africa Leadership Award 2006’.
Additionally, the Nigerian Union of Teachers voted him the ‘Best Performing Governor in Education in the South-South’ in 2006. He was also recognized by the International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP) in 22 July 2006, with ‘Ambassador for Peace Merit Award’ as well as the ‘Leadership and Good Governance Merit Award’.
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is married to Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, and the union is blessed with children. |
EARLY LIFE, EDUCATION AND PERSONAL LIFE
It wasn’t long after that fate once again beckoned. He was busy preparing for re election to his first full term as substantive governor, when the PDP, which is the largest political party in Africa, nominated him as running mate to the Presidential candidate, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua. After a keenly contested election, the Yar’adua/Jonathan ticket won, and on May 29, 2007, he was inaugurated as Nigeria’s Vice President.
Former President Umaru Yar'Adua died on 5 May 2010. Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as Yar'Adua's successor on the following day, 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".
On 18 May 2010, the National Assembly approved President Jonathan's nomination of former Kaduna State governor, Namadi Sambo, an architect, for the position of Vice President.
On June 29, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan launched a Facebook fan-page; 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 the 26th of August, 2010 President Goodluck Jonathan launched the most comprehensive plan which it tagged ‘Roadmap for Power Sector Reform’ aimed at restructuring the power sector and achieving stable electricity in the country. The President in his speech, 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.
On the 15th of September, 2010, President Jonathan, in a message on his Facebook Page, said he had finally decided to run for the presidency after wide consultations with various organizations across the country. This single action of his made him the first ever sitting President to declare his re-election bid via social media.
On the 20th of December, 2010 President Goodluck Jonathan, flagged off the national book campaign tagged 'Bring Back The Book', 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 2011, President Jonathan was elected as the Presidential flag-bearer of the ruling People's Democratic Party for the 2011 Presidential election by 77.7% of valid votes cast. He faced other candidates in the April 16, 2011 general election, including Mallam Nuhu Ribadu[10] of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Muhammadu Buhari of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).[11] On April 18, 2011, Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner of the 2011 Nigerian presidential election. His election victory was followed by violence in the Northern part of the country.
INTERESTING MOMENTS
WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY
After the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, in which the Nigerian team failed to advance beyond group stage, Jonathan decreed a ban on international games for the football team. objected to the president's decision and threatened to evict Nigeria from the association. Subsequently he lifted the ban.
CONTROVERSY OVER MINISTERIAL NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS 2011
In 2011, the Nigerian President's failure to nominate and appoint at least 36 indigenes, one for each of the 36 states 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".
The President can be taken to constitutional court in Nigeria for noncompliance with Article 147(3) of the constitution.
CONTROVERSY OVER REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY ON 1ST JANUARY 2012
On Tuesday 13 December 2011, the 2012 budget which was presented to the Nigerian National Assembly by President Jonathan removed any provisions for fuel subsidy. 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) showed that 80 per cent of Nigerians opposed the plan to remove fuel subsidy.
On Sunday 1st January 2012, the Jonathan administration ignored the concerns of the majority of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian National Assembly which has the power to pass the budget by announcing the start of a controversial plan to end fuel subsidies.
Many prominent Nigerians have spoken out against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration. According to Professor Tam David-West, the former Petroleum Minister, the planned removal of fuel subsidy will squeeze the economy, increase inflation, hurt businesses and the public.
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 tackle corruption.
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.
Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has joined millions of Nigerians protesting against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration, saying that the action is ill-timed.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned the country faces many strikes and mass protests over the removal of fuel subsidy.
Protesters and groups have called for President Jonathan to resign over the removal of fuel subsidies.
Benefits Nigerians will no longer enjoy due to the removal of fuel subsidies are:
§ Security of supply - subsidies are used to ensure adequate domestic supply by supporting indigenous fuel production in order to reduce import dependency, or supporting overseas activities of national energy companies.
§ Environmental improvement - subsidies are used to reduce pollution, including different emissions, and to fulfil international obligations.
§ Economic benefits - subsidies in the form of reduced prices are used to stimulate particular economic sectors or segments of the population.
§ Employment and social benefits - subsidies are used to maintain employment, especially in periods of economic transition.
NIGERIAN INSECURITY AND BOMB ATTACKS IN NIGERIA A KEY CHALLENGE TO THE PRESIDENT
The Nigerian President was severely criticized in the media over prevalent lack of security and current bomb attacks in the country. This is now a key challenge to President Goodluck Jonathan. On 26 August 2011, the UN building in Abuja was bombed. President Goodluck 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.
President Jonathan is under immense pressure from Nigerians and the international community to end the attacks and to reinforce strong security measures in the country.
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