Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a Nigerian politician, a former educationist, and former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was the Nigerian president from 2010 to 2015. Goodluck Jonathan was the first incumbent president in Nigerian history to concede defeat in a presidential election.
Moreover, he was the vice president of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 under the Umar Musa Yar’Adua government. He was also the governor of Bayelsa State for two years, from 2005 to 2007. Before that, he was the deputy governor of the state from 1999 to 2005.
Here Are The Major Things In The Life of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan;
Early Life And Education
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan was born into a family of canoe makers on the 20th of November, 1957. A Christian Ijaw family in Ogbia, Otueke, Bayelsa State, Southern South of Nigeria. Lawrence Ebele Jonathan, who happens to be his father was a canoe maker and his mother, Eunice Ayi Ebele Jonathan, was a home farmer.
Furthermore, Goodluck Jonathan attended a Christian elementary, primary, and secondary school. He got his bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt. Goodluck also received a master’s in hydrobiology, fisheries biology, and a doctorate from the University. He lectured at the Rivers State College of Education for 10 years.
Family
Goodluck Jonathan got married to Dame Patience Jonathan. Their union produced two children. A daughter and a son.
Pre-Politics
Before launching his political career in 1998, he was obviously a lecturer, an education inspector, and an environmental protection officer. He joined the emerging People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the latter half of the 1990s when General Sani Abacha was the military head of state in 1998.
During the 1999 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha ran for governor under PDP, and chose Jonathan as his running mate. Diepreye won the election and became the 1st democratic governor of Bayelsa State in 1999. As a result of their good work in the state, he and his deputy were reelected in the 2003 election. Furthermore, Jonathan was recognized as the most hardworking deputy governor in 2003.
Governorship
Goodluck was the deputy governor until 2005 when he was sworn in as the governor of the state. It was a result of the impeachment of Governor Diepreye by the State Assembly after he was charged with money laundering in the UK.
Vice Presidency
Goodluck was made the running mate of the PDP presidential candidate, Umar Yar’Adua after his tenure as governor of Bayelsa elapsed in 2007. Fortunately, his team wo the electiion and he assumed the position of the NO. 2 citizen of the country.
However, his position as the Vice president was not a loud one, as he kept a very low profile. Nevertheless, he actively contributed to the cabinet meetings and was part of the National Security Council, as his office demanded. In addition, he was a member of the Federal Executive Council and the chairman of NEC (National Executive Council).
Order Of Succession
On the 9th of February 2010, he was named the Acting president of the country. This was after a contested doctrine needed from the Senate due to the unavailability of Yar’Adua in the country. The president went on a trip to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Jonathan made a minor reshuffle in the cabinet on his 1st day as the Acting President.
Following the death of Yar’Adua, Jonathan was sworn in as the president of Nigeria on the 6th of May, 2010. This is in accordance with the order of succession in the constitution.
Furthermore, his choice for Vice President (Namadi Sambo) was approved by the Senate on the 18th of May 2010. In addition, he ran along with Namadi Sambo for the 2011 general election.
He won the presidential election and was sworn in on the then Democracy Day, 29 May 2011. As a result, he became the 14th Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In his inaugural speech, he mentioned power, anti-corruption, and electoral reforms as the main focus of his administration. He also made a promise to continue the 7-point agenda of his late boss.
Presidency
Under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa, as it overtook Egypt and South Africa. Furthermore, his administration accumulated over $454 billion from oil revenue.
Jonathan’s administration spearheaded new railways infrastructure across the country such as the Abuja-Kaduna railway and other railway projects. Also, his administration oversaw the construction and beautification of federal roads which included the Lagos-Benin Expressway, Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, and Onitsha-Owerri highway.
In addition, the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge between Asaba and Onitsha was to lighten the weight and pressure on the old Niger Bridge. The Akanu Ibiam Airport (Enugu) was refurbished into an International airport. The airport connects the Southeast region of Nigeria to any part of the world.
Power Sector
Goodluck Jonathan rolled out his ‘Roadmap for Power Sector Reform’ on the 2nd of August 2010. The primary goal of the reform was to achieve an uninterrupted power supply in the country. This led to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria being split into 15 firms, with the country giving up administration and control of state electricity assets to 15 companies in the private sector.
Furthermore, his government hired the services of CPCS Transcom Limited, a Canada-based consultancy that focuses on transportation and infrastructure projects. The consultancy was to provide expert advisory services in the handover of state electricity assets.
For years, Nigeria’s power sector has struggled. According to economists, lack of constant power supply has cost Nigeria billions of dollars. World bank study also shows that the lack of uninterrupted power supply is the main hindrance to Nigeria’s development, ahead of corruption.
Corruption
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been widely criticized for corruption. Huge sums of money have been misappropriated countless times, with $20 billion allegedly going missing and $2 billion for the military allegedly shared amongst top-ranking officials in the army.
Furthermore, Patience Jonathan (his wife) was charged with money laundering by the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) according to Wikileaks reports in 2006.
Buhari’s administration was fighting the corruption that was done during Jonathan’s administration. Many heads of Several organizations and political appointees under Jonathan’s administration and some party members have been indicted on several charges.
However, it is alleged that some of these people have returned the money they embezzled. An example is former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman. It is important to note that none of these corrupt politicians have been charged to court for their alleged crimes till date.
Same Sex Marriage Prohibited
Goodluck Jonathan signed the ‘Same Sex’ Marriage Prohibition Act into law in January 2014, after it was approved by the Senate and House of Representatives. The law sanctions gay relationships, association, membership, or any involvement in gay marriages or organizations.
The bill was a reaction to an international poll that showed that 98% of Nigerians did not support homosexuality and did not think it should be allowed in their society. 10 to 14 years imprisonment is the penalty for anybody found wanting of the gay law.
As a result, the Nigerian police compiled a list of over 100 people who would be jailed shortly after the bill was passed.
Insurgency
There were various reports on the 16th of January 2014 indicating that Jonathan has saacked his command chiefs due to their inability to restore peace in the northern part of Nigeria. Few months after, over 200 Chibok girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram.
Consequently, this led to agitations and demonstrations for the government to be responsive and proactive to the insecurity and terrorism ordeal in the North.
Goodluck Jonathan had initially denied the kidnapping but later came out to say his government would use ‘prisoner release’ to rescue the kidnapped Chibok girls.
Discussions took place with foreign ministers from Britain, France, the United States, Israel, and France. After the meeting, he however agreed not to do the exchange or any deal with the terrorists.
As a result of Jonathan pulling out from the ‘prison release’ deal, the terrorists got angered and made two bomb explosions in Jos. Over 118 people were killed and 56 people were severely injured. In addition, there were numerous attacks in Northern Nigeria in June 2014. The most noticeable ones are the plaza in Kaduna getting exploded and hundreds of Nigerians being killed in a 2-day attack by the terrorists.
These attacks didn’t look like there was an end to it. It got worse in November when the terrorists bombed the city of Kano in an attempt to kill the Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. Furthermore, Boko Haram terrorists attacked and captured many hometowns and a few cities in Northern Nigeria. His government reacted by going on the offensive with the help of Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. This led to the freedom of the cities and hometowns formerly under the control of Boko Haram.
The insurgency made Goodluck Jonathan’s administration unpopular and played a major role in the failure of his reelection bid.
2015 General Election
The 2015 general election is arguably the most popular in the history of Nigeria. The main opposition to Jonathan at the presidential polls was General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
On the 31st of March 2015, Goodluck Jonathan lost his reelection bid to his main opposition, Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari succeeded Jonathan on the 29th of May, 2015. The most popular and honorable thing Jonathan did was to not challenge the election outcome. He was praised to the high heavens for that, as he allowed for a peaceful transition of power to the incoming administration. In the statement he made after the announcement, he said nobody’s aspiration is worth the loss of life of any citizen.
Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Goodluck said in a statement
Post Presidency
Since departing office in 2015, he has persistently defended his administration. Jonathan was made the honorary special advisor to the Bayelsa Education Trust Fund board in 2019. In addition, he was appointed the new leader of the inaugurated International Summit for Peace.
He was also made an honorable envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to lead the resolution in the 2020 Malian protests.
Conclusion
From his humble beginnings to the seat of the governor to the seat of the president. Goodluck Jonathan’s greatness is born from his determination and hard work.
He is arguably the highest form of inspiration to every Nigerian family and every African child.
