Goodluck Jonathan
Governor of Bayelsa State
In office 9 December 2005 – 16 April 2008
Preceded by	Diepreye Alamieyeseigha
Succeeded by	Timipre Sylva
Vice President of Nigeria
Incumbent
Assumed office  May 29, 2007
President	Umaru Yar'Adua
Preceded by	Atiku Abubakar
Born	November 20, 1957 Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Patience

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (born November 20, 1957^[1]) is a Nigerian politician and current Vice President of Nigeria. He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Contents 1 Early life, education and personal life 2 Political career 2.1 Bayelsa State governorship 2.2 Presidential race 2.3 Vice Presidency 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Early life, education and personal life

Jonathan was born in Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the then Eastern Region, later Rivers State, now Bayelsa State.^[1] He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours, Upper Division. He also holds an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology/Fisheries biology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt.

He is married to Patience.^[2]

[edit] Political career

[edit] Bayelsa State governorship

Jonathan, previously the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, replaced Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom. In September 2006, his wife was indicted by the nation's anti-crime agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for money laundering related offences.

[edit] Presidential race

In December 2006, Jonathan was selected as running mate to Umaru Yar'Adua for the ruling PDP presidential ticket in the April 2007 election.^[3] On April 20, 2007, shortly before the presidential election, a militant attack in Bayelsa State occurred that was described by police as an assassination attempt against Jonathan.^[4]

[edit] Vice Presidency

Following the PDP's disputed electoral victory, militants blew up Jonathan's country house in Otu-Eke, Bayelsa State on May 16, and two policemen were killed in the attack. Jonathan was not present at the time.^[5]

After taking office, Yar'Adua publicly declared his assets, and on August 8, 2007, Jonathan also did so.^[6][7] According to Jonathan, as of May 30, 2007 he has a total of 295,304,420 naira in assets.^[7]

[edit] See also

• Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-IV), 2008.

[edit] References

v • d • e Governors of Bayelsa State This is a list of administrators and Governors of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Bayelsa State was formed in 1996 from part of Rivers State. Name Title Took Office Left Office Party Notes Oladipo Phillips Ayeni Administrator 7 October 1996 28 February 1997 (Military) Habu Daura Administrator 28 February 1997 27 June 1997 (Military) Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade Administrator 27 June 1997 9 July 1998 (Military) Paul Obi Administrator 9 July 1998 29 May 1999 (Military) Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Governor 29 May 1999 9 December 2005 PDP Goodluck Jonathan Governor 9 December 2005 29 May 2007 PDP Timipre Sylva Governor 29 May 2007 16 April 2008 PDP Werinipre Seibarugo Acting Governor 16 April 2008 27 May 2008 Acting governor after Timipre Sylva's election was nullified. Timipre Sylva Governor 27 May 2008 present PDP Re-elected

v • d • e Vice Presidents of Nigeria Babafemi Ogundipe† • J. E. A. Wey† • Olusegun Obasanjo† • Shehu Musa Yar'Adua† • Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme • Tunde Idiagbon† • Ebitu Ukiwe† • Augustus Aikhomu† • Oladipo Diya† • Jeremiah Useni† • Mike Akhigbe† • Atiku Abubakar • Goodluck Jonathan † military