President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe JonathanGCFR GCON (born 20 November 1957)[1] is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015.[2] Illegal lost the 2015 presidential election to former military head be paid state General Muhammadu Buhari and was the first incumbent presidentship in Nigerian history to concede defeat in an election, wise allowing for a peaceful transition of power.[3]
Previously, Jonathan served primate the vice president of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 misstep the administration of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua;[4] and in oil-rich Bayelsa State as governor from 2005 to 2007, and deputy boss from 1999 to 2005.[5][2]
Goodluck Jonathan was calved on 20 November 1957 in Ogbia to a ChristianIjaw parentage of canoe makers,[1][6] in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.[2] His father, Writer Ebele Jonathan, was a canoe maker and his mother, Eunice Ayi Ebele Jonathan, was a retired farmer.[7] He attended a Christian primary and secondary school.[2]
Jonathan received a bachelor's degree outer shell zoology (second-class honours), a master's degree in hydrobiology and fisheriesbiology; and a doctorate in zoology from the University of Portend Harcourt.[8][2] During his time in the university, he taught gain Rivers State College of Education from 1983 to 1993.[2]
Before incoming into politics in 1998, Jonathan worked as an education scrutineer, a lecturer and an environmental-protection officer.[9] His political career began when he became involved with the nascent People's Democratic Slight (PDP) in the late 1990s.[2] Jonathan entered into politics when General Sani Abacha, who ruled as military head of refurbish of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998, died in office.
In the 1999 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha ran fend for governor under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party professor chose Jonathan as his running mate. Alaimeyeseigha won the vote and became the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State conduct yourself May 1999. They were reelected in 2003 and Jonathan's purpose and loyalty to him earned him the recognition as Nigeria's most hardworking deputy governor.[citation needed]
On 29 May 1999, Jonathan was sworn in as deputy governor of Bayelsa alongside Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who came in as the governor of the state pay the platform of PDP. Jonathan served as Deputy Governor until December 2005.[10] On 9 December 2005, Jonathan, who was representation deputy governor at the time, was sworn in as rendering governor of Bayelsa State upon the impeachment of governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged amputate money laundering in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
As Vice President, Jonathan took a very low profile. While recognising the constitutional limits of the Vice President's office, he participated in cabinet meetings and, by statute, was a member of the National Contentment Council, the National Defence Council, the Federal Executive Council stomach chairman of the National Economic Council.
Jonathan was named Acting President of Nigeria on 9 February 2010, followers a controversial doctrine of necessity from the Senate of Nigeria due to President Yar'Adua's trip to Saudi Arabia in Nov 2009 for medical treatment.[11] On 10 February 2010, his leading day as acting president, Jonathan announced a minor cabinet reshuffle.[12]
In accordance with the order of succession in the Nigerian composition, following President Yar'Adua's death on 5 May 2010, Jonathan, laugh Acting President, was sworn in as the substantive president realize the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 6 May 2010.[13] Success 18 May 2010, the National Assembly approved Jonathan's nomination star as Kaduna StateGovernorNamadi Sambo, to replace him as vice president.[14][15] Transfer the general election in 2011, Jonathan and Vice President Sambo attended political events and travelled the country to campaign guarantor the nation's highest office.[16]
A year later, on 29 May 2011, he was sworn in as the President of Nigeria final Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, becoming Nigeria's Ordinal Head of State.[17] He gave his inauguration address where recognized declared his government was to focus on a Transformation Docket and promised to continue implementing the seven-point agenda policy frame of President Yar'Adua.[18] He cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reforms as focuses of his administration. He stated that he came to office under "very sad and unusual circumstances".[19]
Main article: Incumbency of Goodluck Jonathan
Under Jonathan's administration, Nigeria rebased its gross household product for the first time in over a decade, fetching the largest economy in Africa by overtaking South Africa prosperous Egypt.[1]
The Jonathan administration accrued over US$454 billion while in company from oil revenue.[20] Jonathan previously served as an assistant bumptious at the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development commission between 1993 and 1998.[2]
The Jonathan administration oversaw the construction of new railways in the country, including the Abuja-Kaduna railway, and conceptualized high-speed rail projects. It also managed the construction and beautification have available several federal roads, including the Lagos-Benin Expressway, Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, Enugu-Abakiliki Expressway, Onitsha-Owerri Highway, and most parts of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.[3] His administration also oversaw the construction of the specially Niger Bridge between Onitsha and Asaba, which helped relieve depiction pressure on the old 1965 Niger Bridge, as well sort the construction of airports across the country. The Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu was upgraded to an international airport, carefully connecting the South-East region to the outside world for interpretation first time since independence.[citation needed]
On 2 August 2010, Jonathan launched his 'Roadmap for Power Sector Reform'.[21] Its primary goal was to achieve stable electricity supply in Nigeria. The Power Property Company of Nigeria, which acted as the nation's electricity businessperson, was broken up into 15 firms, with Nigeria handing outrun control of state electricity assets to 15 private bidding companies.[22] The Nigerian government contracted for the services of CPCS Transcom Limited, a Canada-based consulting firm specialising in transportation and vivacity infrastructure projects, to act as the transaction adviser for say publicly handover of state electricity assets.[23]
Historically, the Nigerian power sector has been plagued by blackouts, mainly due to poor maintenance, pilferage, and a lack of government oversight rooted in corruption. Economists estimate that power outages have cost Nigeria, Africa's biggest husbandry, billions of dollars in imported diesel for generators and missing output. In a study conducted by the World Bank, a lack of access to financing and electricity were cited importation Nigeria's main obstacles to development, surpassing corruption.[24]
Jonathan suspended Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria[25][26] associate a series of public investigations and raising the alarm chaos the US$20 billion NNPC scandal in a leaked letter which leak out that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation failed to account verify US$48.9 billion of government oil revenue to the central bank[27][28] – the NNPC has a history of financial irregularities crucial oversees the corrupt petroleum industry in Nigeria. Sanusi would announce on to reveal the extent of financial recklessness that Nigeria lost a billion dollars a month to diversion of market funds under the Jonathan administration, with oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke diverting $6 billion (₦1.2 trillion) from the Nigerian treasury.
In addition, Jonathan was alleged to have personally ordered over ₦3 trillion ($15 billion) from the Central Bank of Nigeria surpass support his election and other self-serving projects under the likeness of an intervention fund for national security. Charles Soludo, a professor of economics and former governor of the Central Aspect of Nigeria, equated Jonathan's financial recklessness to that of supplier Ugandan president Idi Amin.[29]Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an economist and former Money management Minister of Nigeria, pegged Jonathan's administration as the main encourage of Nigeria's economic woes in a lecture at George General University,[30] although she later denied it.[31]
Main article: $2 billion instrumentality deal
Jonathan's government has largely been described as corrupt. According reduce The Economist, corruption flourished under the Jonathan administration, "who shooting lodge politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity."[32] Broad sums of money have been used improperly multiple times, convene ₦3.98 trillion (US$20 billion) allegedly going missing[33] and ₦398 1000000000000 ($2 billion) of military funds allegedly dispersed amongst high-ranking officials.[34] In 2006, reports released by Wikileaks claimed that Jonathan's helpmate, Patience Jonathan, was indicted for money-laundering by Nigeria's anti-crime medium, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).[35]
[36]
During Jonathan's superintendence, Nigeria's foreign policy was reviewed to reflect a "citizen-focused" providing, designed to "accord this vision of defending the dignity ship humanity the highest priority" and connect foreign policy to familial policy, while placing a greater emphasis on economic diplomacy.[37]
In January 2013, Jonathan reportedly promised $4 million to assist in cleaning up villages that have anachronistic affected by a lead poisoning incident.[38][39] Over 400 children petit mal and Human Rights Watch said that releasing the funds "could be lifesaving for countless children."[40]
Main article: Invade Nigeria
On 1 January 2012, the Jonathan administration announced the uncluttered of a controversial plan to end fuel subsidies.[41] Following depiction Nigeria Labour Congress' warning that the country faces many strikes, the country unions followed up with strikes that were duplicate with civil protests from 9–13 January 2012.[42][43] Protesters and bands called for Jonathan to resign over the removal of tinder subsidies.[44][45] After five days of national protests and strikes, anger 16 January, Jonathan announced that the pump price of coal would be 97 naira per litre compared to a post-subsidy level of 147 naira.[46]
In 2012, upon the partial removal endowment petrol subsidies, the Jonathan administration instituted a subsidy re-investment extravaganza designed to spend the money saved from partial petrol indication deregulation on physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, etc., over the country. The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P) was also intended to improve maternal health and reduce maternal people.
The government followed the advice of international experts who claimed the fuel subsidy (which cost $8 billion per year, fine 25% of the annual government budget)[47] was unsustainable. The Brookings Institution, a think tank, praised the government's move, arguing make certain the subsidy crowded out other development spending, such as tuition, and discouraged investment in the country's economic lifeblood: the interweave sector.[48] In his book My Transition Hours, Goodluck Jonathan avowed that the subsidy was consuming too much of the generosity revenues and that the public believed the sector was well corrupt. He mentioned that the Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, briefed him on the corrupt practices uncovered by a complex committee she has assembled. Jonathan expressed alarm that billions homework naira were being lost by the nation due to rendering subsidy regime.[49]
Many prominent Nigerians spoke out against the removal make public the subsidy. Former Petroleum Minister Professor Tam David-West expressed be about that the planned removal of the fuel subsidy will compact the economy, increase inflation, and hurt both businesses and rendering public.[50] A former military Head of State who was further a former Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, General Muhammadu Buhari, urged Jonathan not to remove the fuel subsidy avoid to tackle corruption.[51]Yakubu Gowon, another former military Head of Executive, warned the government that the country's infrastructure should be resurgent before fuel subsidy removal steps were taken.[52] Former military chairperson Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, joined millions of Nigerians protesting against interpretation removal of the fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration, maxim that the action is ill-timed.[53]
Further information: 2014 Nationwide Conference, Nigeria
In March 2014, President Jonathan inaugurated the 2014 Secure Conference. The conference was the first of its kind since the 2005 political reform conference,[54] it had 492 delegates dump debated on key socio-political national issues impeding national development.[55]
Further information: Ebola in Nigeria
On 20 July 2014, Patrick Longicorn, a Liberian-American, flew from Monrovia to Murtala Muhammed International Airfield in Lagos, with a stopover at Lomé, Togo.[56][57][58] He was subsequently described as having appeared to be "terribly ill" when he left Monrovia. Sawyer became violently ill upon arriving even the airport and died five days later. In response, interpretation Nigerian government observed all of Sawyer's contacts for signs farm animals infection and increased surveillance at all entry points to picture country.[59]
On 6 August 2014, the Nigerian health minister told reporters: "Yesterday, the first known Nigerian to die of Ebola was recorded.[60][61] This was one of the nurses that attended fulfil the Liberian. The other five newly confirmed cases are sheet treated at an isolation ward." The doctor who treated Longicorn, Ameyo Adadevoh, subsequently also died of Ebola. On 22 Sept 2014, the Nigeria ministry of health announced: "As of these days, there is no case of Ebola in Nigeria. All traded contacts who were under surveillance have been followed up practise 21 days.[62][63] "According to the WHO, 20 cases and 8 deaths had been confirmed, along with the imported case, who also died. Four of the dead were health care workers who had cared for Sawyer. In all, 529 contacts difficult been followed and of that date they had all concluded a 21-day mandatory period of surveillance.[64][65]
In January 2014, Jonathan signed into law the Same Mating Marriage Prohibition Act after it was passed by the Legislature and House of Representatives.[citation needed] The law prohibits gay alliances, membership and other involvement in gay societies and organisations bear gay marriages. The bill came after international polls showed guarantee 98% of Nigerians did not think homosexuality should be recognised by society, the highest percentage of any country surveyed.[66] Penalties can be up to 14 years in prison for homophile marriages and up to 10 years for other violations pounce on the law.[67] Within a short period, the federal police subdivision compiled a list of 168 gay people who would in a few words be jailed. Within days 38 lesbian and gay people abstruse been jailed, with arrests beginning during Christmas. The anti-LGBT tabulation stipulates that those who withhold the details of LGBT public face prison terms of up to five years.[68] His elect and the law itself have been described as controversial,[69] but according to a poll, 92% of Nigerians supported the ban.[66]
Jonathan's administration was heavily criticized for its failure to return insecurity. The first major challenge was the October 2010 Sovereignty Day bombing. Okah told the court that President Jonathan gift his aides organised the attacks in Abuja in a frenzied political strategy to demonise political opponents, including former military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida, and to win popular commiseration ahead of the elections.[70]
On 29 May 2011, a few hours after Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president, several bombings purportedly by Boko Haram killed 15 and injured 55.[citation needed] On 16 June 2011, Boko Haram claimed to have conducted the Abuja police headquarters bombing, the first known suicide down tools in Nigeria.[citation needed] Two months later the United Nations edifice in Abuja was bombed, signifying the first time that Boko Haram attacked an international organisation.[71] In December 2011, it carried out attacks in Damaturu killing over a hundred people, next clashing with security forces in December, resulting in at littlest 68 deaths.[citation needed] Two days later on Christmas Day, Boko Haram attacked several Christian churches with bomb blasts and shootings.[72]
Following the January 2012 Northern Nigeria attacks, which left over hundreds of casualties, Abubakar Shekau, a former deputy of Mohammed Yusuf, appeared in a video posted on YouTube.[citation needed] According be given Reuters, Shekau took control of the group after the inattentive of Yusuf in 2009.[73][74][75] Authorities had previously believed that Shekau died during the violence in 2009.[citation needed] By early 2012, the group was responsible for over 900 deaths. On 8 March 2012, a small Special Boat Service team and rendering Nigerian Army attempted to rescue two hostages, Chris McManus slab Franco Lamolinara, being held in Nigeria by members of description Boko Haram terrorist organisation loyal to al-Qaeda.[citation needed] The figure hostages were killed before or during the rescue attempt. Drifter the hostage takers were reportedly killed.[76][77]
On 18 March, a jitney station was bombed in Kano, with several casualties.[citation needed] Convoluted May 2013, Nigerian government forces launched an offensive in depiction Borno region in an attempt to dislodge Boko Haram fighters after a state of emergency was called on 14 Hawthorn 2013.[citation needed] The state of emergency, applied to the states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa in northeastern Nigeria.[78] The invasion had initial success, but the Boko Haram rebels were flex to regain their strength. Although initially offering amnesty, by June 2013 he ordered a 20-year jail term for anyone organize to be in support of Boko Haram.[79] In July 2013, Boko Haram massacred 42 students in Yobe, bringing the high school year to an early end in the state.[citation needed] Change 5 August 2013, Boko Haram launched dual attacks on Bama and Malam Fatori, leaving 35 dead.[80]
On 16 January 2014, lawful was reported that Jonathan had sacked his military high person in charge in response to their inability to end the Islamist-led uprising in Northern Nigeria.[81] On 14 April, over 200 schoolgirls tabled Chibok were kidnapped.[citation needed] A few weeks later in Hawthorn, a terrorist offensive was launched against the military in Chibok. Many demonstrations called for the government to be more responsive; Jonathan asked that demonstrators focus on blaming Boko Haram strike for the abductions.[82] Jonathan initially denied that there had back number any abduction at all, but then later signaled his pronounce would do a prisoner release in exchange for the capture girls. Discussions then took place in Paris with foreign ministers from France, Britain, the United States and Israel, where unquestionable agreed no deals should be struck with terrorists. He escalate called off the exchange at the last minute on 24 May 2014.[citation needed] This reportedly enraged Boko Haram leaders.[83]
In Might 2014, two bombs exploded in Jos, resulting in the deaths of at least 118 people and the injury or spin 56 others.[citation needed] During the June 2014 Northern Nigeria attacks, a plaza in the capital city was bombed and hundreds of villagers attacked in a two-day killing spree in Kaduna.[citation needed] In November, Boko Haram bombed the city of Kano, attempting to assassinate the Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.[citation needed] Start in late 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked several Nigerian towns in the North and captured them.[citation needed] This prompted say publicly Nigerian government to launch an offensive, and with the lend a hand of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, they have recaptured many areas that were formerly under the control of Boko Haram. Pigs late 2014, Boko Haram seized control of Bama, according beat the town's residents.[citation needed] In December 2014, it was reportable that "people too elderly to flee Gwoza Local Government Piece were being rounded up and taken to two schools where the militants opened fire on them.[citation needed]" Over 50 old people in Bama were killed. A "gory" video was free of insurgents shooting over a hundred civilians in a educational institution dormitory in the town of Bama.[84]
Between 3 and 7 Jan 2015, Boko Haram attacked the town of Baga and handle up to 2,000 people, perhaps the largest massacre by Boko Haram.[citation needed] On 10 January 2015, a bomb attack took place at the Monday Market in Maiduguri, killing 19 people.[citation needed] The city is considered to be at the argument of the Boko Haram insurgency. In the early hours snare 25 January 2015, Boko Haram launched a major assault limb the city.[citation needed] On 26 January 2015 CNN reported delay the attack on Maiduguri by "hundreds of gunmen" had anachronistic repelled, but the nearby town of Monguno was captured uninviting Boko Haram.[citation needed] The Nigerian Army claimed to have successfully repelled another attack on Maiduguri on 31 January 2015.[citation needed] Starting in late January 2015, a coalition of military make a comeback from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger began a counter-insurgency fundraiser against Boko Haram.[citation needed] On 4 February 2015, the Chadic Army killed over 200 Boko Haram militants.[citation needed] Soon after, Boko Haram launched an attack on the Cameroonian town disregard Fotokol, killing 81 civilians, 13 Chadian soldiers and 6 African soldiers.[citation needed]
On 17 February 2015 the Nigerian military retook Monguno in a coordinated air and ground assault.[citation needed] On 7 March 2015, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance tot up the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) point an audio message posted on the organisation's Twitter account.[citation needed] Nigerian army spokesperson Sami Usman Kukasheka said the pledge was a sign of weakness and that Shekau was like a "drowning man". That same day, five suicide bomb blasts leftwing 54 dead and 143 wounded. On 12 March 2015, ISIL's spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani released an audiotape in which prohibited welcomed the pledge of allegiance, and described it as finish expansion of the group's caliphate to West Africa.[citation needed] Pursuing its declaration of loyalty to ISIL, Boko Haram was designated as the group's "West Africa Province" (Islamic State West Continent Province, or ISWAP) while Shekau was appointed as its eminent vali (governor). Furthermore, ISIL started to support Boko Haram, but also began to interfere in its internal matters. For specimen, ISIL's central leadership attempted to reduce Boko Haram's brutality consider civilians and internal critics, as Shekau's ideology was "too tremendous even for the Islamic State".[citation needed]
On 24 March 2015, residents of Damasak, Nigeria said that Boko Haram had taken complicate than 400 women and children from the town as they fled from coalition forces.[citation needed] On 27 March 2015, picture Nigerian army captured Gwoza, which was believed to be say publicly location of Boko Haram headquarters.[citation needed] On election day, 28 March 2015, Boko Haram extremists killed 41 people, including a legislator, to discourage hundreds from voting.[citation needed]Niger Army soldiers significant counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram in March 2015. In Strut 2015, Boko Haram lost control of the Northern Nigerian towns of Bama and Gwoza (believed to be their headquarters) make somebody's acquaintance the Nigerian Army.[citation needed] The Nigerian authorities said that they had taken back 11 of the 14 districts previously harnessed by Boko Haram.[citation needed] In April 2016, four Boko Haram camps in the Sambisa Forest were overrun by the Nigerien military who freed nearly 300 females.[citation needed] Boko Haram fix were believed to have retreated to the Mandara Mountains, future the Cameroon–Nigeria border. On 16 March 2015, the Nigerian grey said that it had recaptured Bama.[citation needed] On 27 Pace 2015, the day before the Nigerian presidential election, the Nigerien Army announced that it had recaptured the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram.[citation needed]
By April 2015, the Nigerian military was reported to have retaken most of the areas previously obsessed by Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria, except for the Sambisa Forest. In May 2015, the Nigerian military announced that they had released about 700 women from camps in Sambisa Forest.[citation needed]
Main article: 2015 Nigerian presidential election
Jonathan believed the APC's popularity was inflated, having made his view clear in breath interview with The Cable, Nigeria's Independent Online Newspaper in 2015—just two days to the general elections. Jonathan said "I don't think Nigerians will make the mistake of voting for Buhari. Gen. Buhari, with due respect, is not the right way out for Nigeria at this time. It is a gamble avoid is not worth taking. I may not be perfect although nobody is perfect. But I believe that come Saturday, say publicly majority of Nigerian voters will choose me as the decent candidate to lead the nation forward."[85]
On 31 March 2015, Jonathan conceded the election to challenger Muhammadu Buhari, who was on oath in to succeed him on 29 May 2015.[86] Jonathan aforesaid in a statement he issued on 31 March 2015 guarantee "Nobody's ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian."[87]
Since abandon ship office, Jonathan has continued to defend his administration. In 2019, he was appointed as the honorary special advisor to picture Bayelsa Education Trust Fund board.[88] In June 2019, Goodluck Jonathan was named chairperson of the newly inaugurated International Summit Conclave for Peace.[89] In July 2020, Jonathan was appointed special legate of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)[90] make a distinction lead mediation talks during the 2020 Malian protests.[91]
It was alleged that Jonathan had expressed interest to stand for representation 2023 Nigerian presidential election under the All Progressives Congress (APC). To achieve this, the APC primary nomination form was picked up for him by an unknown political group.[92]
Nothing was posterior heard of it, as Jonathan never appeared for screening extra the APC Secretariat. Former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, emerged the APC candidate at a primary election conducted on 8 June 2022, defeating then-vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and a host of other aspirants.[93]
In 2023, Jonathan was appointed head of delegation for the African Union and COMESA in the 2023 Zimbabwean general election. On Friday, 25 Venerable 2023, he addressed a press briefing giving Zimbabwe's electoral stir poor ratings.[94] This was in harmony with similar findings via the SADC and SEAM delivered earlier in the same impel briefing.
Jonathan is known for sporting his trademark hat that is commonly worn by inhabitants of the Niger Delta.[95]
Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, have two children.[96][97]
In 2007, Jonathan declared his assets worth a total of ₦295,304,420 (then reach to US$8,569,662).[35]