Jonathan has been Nigeria's acting president since November 2009

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who is both vice-president and acting president of Nigeria, came to prominence by accident.

He was born in the Niger Delta in November 1957 to a family of canoe makers and studied zoology before working as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental protection officer.
Jonathan began his career in politics in 1998, having joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998.
The trajectory took a more official turn when he was elected in 1999 deputy governor of the western state of Bayelsa, a post he held for two terms.

Impressive record
Following the impeachment of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former Bayelsa governor, in December 2005, Jonathan was sworn in as the governor. Bayelsa is one of the three main states in the oil-producing Niger Delta.

With an impressive track record behind him, Jonathan was selected as a running mate to Umary Yar'Adua for the ruling PDP presidential ticked in the April 2007 election.
But shortly before elections took place, an attack on Jonathan occurred in Bayelsa, which was described by police as an assassination attempt.
It was obvious then that Jonathan would hardly be free of the biggest impediment to progress in Nigeria - corruption.
Two years later and Nigeria's parliament nominated Jonathan as acting head of state after Yar'Adua was admitted to hospital in Saudi Arabia. The president has not been seen in public since.

Regional politics
Jonathan's selection as Yar'Adua's running mate in 2007 was more about regional politics than Jonathan himself.

The Nigerian presidency reflects a regional balancing act between the Muslim north and the Christian south, with the role traditionally switching every eight years between the two sides with each election. Yar’Adua is from the Muslim north and Jonathan from the Christian south.
Olusegun Obasanjo, the Christian former president, who came from the province of Yoruba in southwest Nigeria, was succeeded by Yar’Adua.
In the absence of the ailing Yar’Adua, the north would be left to have five more years, which some experts say would provoke more anger in the country's opposition ranks.
Jonathan has been representing Yar’Adua at cabinet meetings and official functions since the Nigeria leader was hospitalised.

Transferring power
While executive powers have not been formally transferred to Yar'Adua, that has led to questions over the legality of government decisions in his absence.
However, a federal court ruled in January 2010 that Jonathan could perform all the executive duties for ailing Yar'Adua without an official transfer of power.
The parliament also ruled that Yar'Adua was not obliged to transfer power to Jonathan while he receives medical treatment abroad.
It said, however, that Jonathan could not be acting president if he failed to do so.
In his first use of executive power, Jonathan ordered troops to Jos last month to restore calm and prevent a repetition of clashes in November 2008, when hundreds of residents were killed in the country's worst sectarian fighting in years.
At least 200 people have already died.

Plea for resolve
In a nationwide address in February, Jonathan called on all Nigerians to set aside religious and ethnic differences to work together for the common good.
"The events of the recent past have put to a test our collective resolve as a democratic nation," said Jonathan.
"I am delighted to know that our nation has demonstrated resilience and unity of purpose.
Only recently did the political momentum shift for Jonathan when Nigeria's powerful state governors said a temporary transfer of authority would be in the nation's best interest.

Source: Aljazeera.com

Nigeria President Dead at 58

Nigeria's acting president has declared seven days of mourning following the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi says President Yar'Adua died about 9 pm local time.

Nigerian national television interrupted broadcasts with this announcement. "The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces Al-Haji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua died a few hours ago in the presidential villa. Security aides notified the National Security Advisor General Aliyu Gusau. Gusau who immediately called the acting president. The late president has been ill for some time. We shall bring you an official statement as soon as possible," the announcement said.

The announcement gave no official cause of death. President Yar'Adua had long suffered from kidney disease. He spent months in a Saudi hospital being treated for an inflammation of the muscles surrounding his heart before returning to Nigeria two months ago.

In his absence, Nigerian lawmakers made vice president Goodluck Jonathan the country's acting president. Mr. Jonathan has since replaced much of the previous cabinet and says the new administration will take bold steps to improve Nigeria.

Mr. Jonathan's spokesman Ima Niboro spoke to reporters following the announcement of the presidents death. "The acting president has received this news with shock and sadness. Our nation is in mourning. I am sure the entire world mourns with us tonight," he said.

In a written statement, U.S. President Barack Obama honored what he called President Yar'Adua's profound personal decency and integrity, his deep commitment to public service, and his passionate belief in the vast potential and bright future of Nigeria's 150 million people.

President Obama says President Yar'Adua worked to promote peace and stability in Africa through his support of Nigerian peacekeeping efforts as well as his strong criticism of undemocratic actions in the region. Mr. Obama says Mr. Yar'Adua was committed to creating lasting peace and prosperity within Nigeria's own borders. He says continuing that work will be an important part of honoring his legacy.

Acting President Jonathan has vowed to reinvigorate an amnesty program for Niger Delta militants that President Yar'Adua began last year.

His death leaves division with the ruling People's Democratic Party. Acting President Jonathan has not ruled out running for president himself next year. But he is from southern Nigeria.

Ruling party chairman Vincent Ogbulafor says the next candidate should be from northern Nigeria to fulfill the eight years promised northern politicians under an informal power-sharing agreement that rotates the presidency between the mainly-Muslim north and largely-Christian south every two terms.

Nigeria's government says Mr. Jonathan will be sworn-in as Nigerian president Thursday morning. President Yar'Adua will be buried in his home town of Katsina Thursday afternoon.

Source: VOA