Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is arguably Nigeria’s luckiest citizen alive.
His parents would probably be thanking their stars for naming their son, Goodluck. A native of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Dr. Jonathan, who is a PHD holder in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt and a former Lecturer in the same University, comes across as a perfect gentleman.One of Nigeria’s foremost magazine, TELL, in one of its recent edition profiled Dr. Jonathan. This writer read the article, and looking at his political history, it will be safe to say, the Acting President is not a typical Nigerian politician. Infact, almost every position he has found himself in the past practically fell on his laps with little or no effort or desperation from Dr. Jonathan. Seemingly contented with his job as a Lecturer and a Board Member of a regional government agency that concerns itself with Oil and Minerals development in Oil Producing Communities.
Jonathan was reportedly approached by all the traditional leaders in his local government advicing him to seek a political platform to contest the council’s chairmanship seat and be assured of their support.
According to the magazine, Jonathan was initially reluctant but later bowed to the severe pressure mounted on him. While preparing to slug it out in grass root politics, Dr. Jonathan was approached by former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepriye Alameseigha to run alongside him in a joint ticket for the Governorship/Deputy race in the 1999 Gubernatorial Election. They won the election and enjoyed a cordial relationship, as Jonathan was said to be 100% loyal to his boss and the then governor trusted him too. Midway into their 2nd term in office, the wave of anti-corruption led by the indefatigable Mallam Nuhu Ribadu birthed in Bayelsa and consumed the former governor as reports in the media then suggested that the Economic and Financial crimes commission (EFCC) actually gave the British Metropolitan Police the tip off that Alameseigha was in possession of large sum of money in Foreign Currency and he was consequently arrested in Heathrow Airport, London and charged with money laundering.
Alameseigha later jumped bail, dressed like a woman, he returned to Nigeria Unnoticed by both British and Nigeria Airport and Security Authorities. Shortly after his return, he was impeached by the Bayelsa State house of Assembly for gross misconduct, financial misappropriation, bringing ridicule to the State e.t.c. The responsibility of steering the ship (State) naturally tell on Jonathan, who was again initially reluctant before he was advised that his taking over was constitutional and not an act of betrayal as he envisaged. Jonathan regretted the circumstances in which he became governor, while reading out his acceptance speech when he was being sworn-in as governor.
He pledged his continued loyalty to his former boss and this was made manifest when he refused to dissolve the cabinet, even though, he was under intense pressure to do so by the powers that be in the State.
Jonathan contested the 2007 gubernatorial election in the State and won, but he was picked by the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run on a joint ticket with Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua for the Presidential election after the initial favourite, Dr. Peter Odilli was dropped due to corruption related issues. Coming from the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria (the ijaw nation).
Jonathan’s emergence was as a result of the struggles and agitation of the Niger Delta people for the control of their resources and higher government positions. Before assuming the role of Acting President, Jonathan was reportedly ineffective in key government policies, but visible in ceremonial capacity and duties. Jonathan’s Goodluck was once again brought to the fore when on the 9th of February 2010, a resolution was passed at the National Assembly empowering him to be the Acting President and assume presidential powers pending the return of Yar’adua.
Yar’adua traveled to Saudi Arabia on November 23, 2009 to attend to his health at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and research centre, Riyadh. He is said to be nursing acute pericardetis (An inflammation of the membrane around the heart). Yar’adua was away for over 70days without adhering to the constitutional provision which stipulates transmission of a written declaration to the National Assembly that he is on vacation (in this case, attending to his health), and properly handing over to Jonathan, as acting president, as enshrined in section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Yar’adua’s absence heated the polity, caused panic and tension and was a clear invitation to Chaos, as it was politically dangerous to have vaccum in the seat of power especially in a democratic dispensation in this part of the world. Although, the National Assembly’s decision is practically not backed by law, it was out of necessity and political expediency in other not to put the country’s cherished democracy in danger.
Jonathan’s first task as acting president was to use his goodluck to uproot the badluck of the Yar’adua administration, Chief Micheal Kaase Aondoaka (S.A.N) from the sacred position of the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice to the ministry of Special duties is a step in the good right direction. The Benue born lawyer was no doubt a clog in the wheel of progress of the Yar’adua administration. This writer wish Jonathan continues with the goodluck cleansing of the ideas-lacking and inactive cabinet of the go- slow and indecisive Yar’adua. On a lighter note, knowing most Nigerians for who they are, I will not be surprised if new born babies are named Goodluck either in English or their native language by their parents. Need I say more………………. GOODLUCK, MR JONATHAN.
