Jonathan, Goodluck Ebele

Jonathan, Goodluck Ebele,

1957–, Nigerian politician, president of Nigeria (2010–). An Ijaw from the Niger delta region, he was educated as a zoologist (Ph.D. Univ. of Port Harcourt, 1995) and worked as a teacher, education inspector, college lecturer, and (from 1993) assistant director for the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission. He entered politics in 1998 and was elected (1999, 2003) deputy governor of his native Bayelsa State. Jonathan succeeded to the governorship in 2005 after the governor was impeached for corruption. A member of the People's Democratic party (PDP), he was elected Nigeria's vice president in 2007 as Umaru Yar'AduaYar'Adua, Umaru Musa
, 1951–2010, Nigerian politician, president of Nigeria (2007–10). Born into a family active in Nigerian political and military affairs, he was trained as a chemist at Ahmadu Bello Univ., Zello (B.Sc, 1975; M.Sc. 1980).
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's running mate, and after Yar'Adua went abroad (Dec., 2009) for medical treatment and did not soon return, he was named acting president (Feb., 2010) by a National Assembly vote and remained in that post when the president returned later in February. Jonathan succeeded Yar'Adua as president when the latter died in May, 2010. He won a presidential term in his own right in Apr., 2011, but the election was marred by suspicions of vote fraud in some southern states. By early 2014, Jonathan was increasingly subject to suspicions that his government was tolerating corruption; these had been aroused by such actions as the pardoning of the former governor of Bayelsa and the suspension of the central bank governor (who had accused the state oil company of not accounting for all income). Corruption and the military's failure to defeat Boko HaramBoko Haram
[Western education is sinful], Nigerian Islamic fundamentalist militia, officially Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad [people committed to the propagation of the Prophet's teachings and jihad]. It arose (c.
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 contributed to Jonathan's loss to Muhammadu BuhariBuhari, Muhammadu,
1942–, Nigerian military officer and political leader. A Fulani from Katsina State, he joined the army in 1961; he rose to the rank of general and participated in several coups.
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 in the Apr., 2015, presidential election.