Goodluck Ebele Jonathan - Nigeria's Political Icon is +1

It’s been over five months since my last full human post on Steemit. And good gracious! It really has been ages.

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A lot has happened to me and for me in that time, but I’ve still alive and I’m still kicking…all thanks to God, the Creator!

Posting certainly feels all new to me at the moment, and it would take a while for me to get on my grind, but hopefully I will.

For today though, I’m going to pay a tribute to a Nigerian personality who needs no introduction to Nigerians and to Africa as a whole.

As he celebrates his birthday today, Nigerians and Africans would easily recognize him as the immediate past President of Nigeria – Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan.

Goodluck Jonathan turns a year older today and is one man who would always be remembered for an act which is not very common amongst politicians in sub-Saharan Africa – “conceding and accepting electoral defeat”.

Who is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan?

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a Nigerian Politician from Bayelsa State located in the South-south of Nigeria.

Goodluck Jonathan’s rise to the top in Nigerian Politics remains quite remarkable considering the fact that his family had no background in politics and were just a family of canoe markers.

With a doctorate degree in zoology, he worked as a lecturer, an education inspector and an environmental officer.

He also served as the assistant director at the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission before delving into politics.

Since joining politics and the People’s Democratic Party in 1998, Jonathan has gone on to play crucial roles in Nigerian politics, even after losing the 2015 Presidential Election to the current President.

Before becoming the President of Nigeria, he served as the Governor of Bayelsa State between 2005 and 2007.

In 2007, he became the Vice-President of Nigeria under then President Umaru Yar’Adua, and eventually became Nigeria’s president following the death of President Yar’Adua in 2010.

As a Vice-President, he kept a low-profile and played a crucial role in negotiating with Niger-Delta militants during the crisis that erupted in the Niger-Delta region of the country.

From the late 90’s, when he burst onto the political scene, Goodluck Jonathan went about establishing himself as a highly prominent politician in his country.

The hallmark of his steady political rise was when he served as Acting President when the incumbent President Yar'Adua was absent on sick leave. He eventually succeeded President Yar’Adua upon his death.

From 2010 when he became President of Nigeria, he led Nigeria through several challenging times which tested his capability as a true leader.

In his time as President, he dealt with issues such as the Independence Day Bombing, Corruption, Removal of fuel subsidy, same sex marriage prohibition act, Boko Haram, the abduction of the Chibok girls, and so many others.

With major outcry from so many sources for a new direction for the country, Goodluck Jonathan contested the 2015 presidential election and lost to Muhammadu Buhari.

By conceding defeat in the elections, Goodluck Jonathan made some sort of history; as he became the first sitting president of Nigeria to concede electoral defeat.

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@rickie