Goodluck Jonathan Biography and Net Worth

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan popularly known as Goodluck Jonathan is a famous Nigerian politician, investor, entrepreneur, humanitarian and a philanthropist who served as the 14th President of Nigeria from 29th May 2010 to 29 May 2015. He was the first public figure in Nigeria to elevate from a deputy governor to the President of Nigeria. He served as Vice-President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 and as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007. He is currently one of the most humble presidents Nigeria has ever produced.

He was born on 20th November 1957 in Ogbia, a small village in Bayelsa State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He is currently 60 years old. Goodluck Jonathan was born into a family of canoe makers. He completed his primary and secondary school education in Bayelsa State, Nigeria and obtained both his First School Leaving Certificate and West African Senior School Certificate.

After completing his primary and secondary school education, Goodluck Jonathan proceeded to University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree (B,sc) in Zoology, Master’s Degree (M,sc) in Hydrobiology and Fisheries and finally Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Zoology.

Before joining the Nigerian politics in 1998, Goodluck Jonathan has worked as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental-protection officer. Goodluck Jonathan is currently married to Dame Patience Jonathan and the marriage is currently blessed with two children namely Ariwera Jonathan and Aruabi Jonathan.

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Goodluck Jonathan is a Christian from the Ijaw ethnic group. In 2015, Goodluck Jonathan contested and lost the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari, upon which he conceded defeat and became the first sitting Nigerian president to do so. Goodluck Jonathan tenure as President of Nigeria ended on 29th May 2015, with Muhammadu Buhari succeeding him as the current Nigeria president. 

During the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan as the President of Nigeria, he was heavily criticized due to the high rate of corruption in Nigeria by public office holders and the massacre and bombing of innocent citizens and houses, churches, hospitals and mosques by Boko Haram terrorists. The worst scenario was the kidnapping of the Chibok Girls in Maidugiri in the northern part of Nigeria was received global attention.

Goodluck Jonathan is an active member of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and has been in the party till date. After completing his academic studies, Goodluck Jonathan worked as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental-protection officer before joining politics in 1998.

On 29th May 1999, Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State alongside with Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was sworn in as the executive governor of Bayelsa State on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Goodluck Jonathan served as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State until early December 2005.

On 9th December 2005, Goodluck Jonathan, was sworn in as Executive Governor of Bayelsa State upon the impeachment of the current Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom.

In 2007, Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as the Vice-President of Nigeria alongside with Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was sworn in as the President of Nigeria. As the Nigerian Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan took a very low profile. While recognizing the constitutional limits of the Vice-President’s office, he participated in cabinet meetings and, by statute, was a member of the National Security Council, the National Defense Council, the Federal Executive Council, and was the Chairman of National Economic Council.

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One of Goodluck Jonathan greatest achievement as Nigerian Vice President was the fact that he negotiated an agreement with many of the major militant groups in the Niger Delta region, to lay down their weapons and stop fighting as part of a government amnesty.

Unfortunately, in 2010, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died while on power and on 9th February 2010, a motion from the Nigerian Senate invested Goodluck Jonathan as the acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On 10th February 2010, during his first day as Nigerian acting President, Goodluck Jonathan announced a minor cabinet reshuffle.

He renamed Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, who was the Minister of Labour to Minister of Justice,and mandated him to replace Mr. Mike Aondoakaa. While Mr. Mike Aondoakaa was named as the Minister of Special Duties, and his counterpart Ibrahim Kazaure was named the Minister of Labour. During his tenure as the Acting President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan promised to continue implementing the Seven-point agenda policy framework of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

On 15th September 2010, Goodluck Jonathan announced on Facebook of his intention to run as President of Nigeria in the 2011 general election. On 13th January 2011, the primary election results for the presidential bids was announced in Eagle Square Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria and Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner.

In 2011, Goodluck Jonathan contested and won the presidential election against General Muhammadu Buhari. On 18th April 2011, Goodluck Jonathan was publicly declared the winner of the election. On 29th May 2011, Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as the 14^th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On 1st January 2012, Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy which result in a general indefinite strike by the labor union, thereby causing a halt on economic and commercial activities in the whole country.

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Goodluck Jonathan is currently one of the richest and most influential personality and public figure in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $9 million.