Jonathan and his wife Patience have two children. He is aChristian, and 
he comes from theIjaw people ethnic group.In 2007,
President Jonathan declared his assets worth a total of ₦ 
295,304,420 Naira ($1,845,652 USD). However, 
on 9 October 2014, the richestlifestyle.com website ranked Mr Jonathan sixth on its list, claiming his net worth was about $100m (£62m).
He threatened to sue the website, claiming it "was an attempt to portray him as corrupt." "Nigeria's President Jonathan 'could sue' over rich list", 
BBC News, 9 October 2014. The page was removed, but was then published by 
another website Goodluck Jonathan Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth which estimated Jonathan's net wealth at $10 million.
Governor


Deputy Governor of Bayelsa
On 29 May 1999, Jonathan was sworn in as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa alongside Diepreye 
Alamieyeseigha who named in as the governor of the state 
on the platform of PDP. Jonathan served as Deputy Governor until December 2005.

Governor of Bayelsa
On 9 December 2005, Jonathan, who was Deputy Governor at the time, was 
sworn in as Governor of Bayelsa State upon the impeachment of the current 
Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being 
charged with money laundering in the United 
Kingdom. In September 2006, Jonathan was married by reports released by Wikileaks claiming his wife 
was indicted for money-laundering by Nigeria’s anti-crime 
agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The report proved to be false. The head of the EFCC stated that "Mrs. Jonathan was not in any way involved in any case of money laundering investigated by the EFCC".


Vice-presidency
As Vice-President, Jonathan took a very low profile.
While recognising 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 Defence Council, the Federal Executive Council,
and was the Chairman of National Economic Council.Vice-President Jonathan was instrumental in negotiating an agreement with many of the major militant groups in the Niger Delta, who 
were mostly his fellow Ijaws, to lay down their weapons and stop 
fighting as part of a government amnesty.
Presidency


Acting president
On 9 February 2010, a motion from the Nigerian Senate invested Goodluck 
Jonathan as acting President of the Federation because President Yar'Adua went to Saudi Arabia in November 2009 
for medical treatment. On 10 February 2010, during his first day as acting president, Jonathan announced a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, who was the Labour Minister, was named Minister of 
Justice, to replace Mr Mike Aondoakaa. Aondoakaa was named as the Minister of Special Duties, 
and his counterpart Ibrahim Kazaure was named Minister of 
Labour.Acting President Jonathan also promised to continue implementing the Seven-point agenda policy framework of President 
Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
Order of succession


In accordance with the order of succession in the Nigerian constitution following President Umaru Yar'Adua's death on 5 May 
2010, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 6 May 2010, President,
Commander-In-Chief.aspx News Agency of Nigeria story on newly sworn President Jonathan becoming 
Nigeria's 14th Head of State. He cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reforms as focuses of his administration. He stated that he came to office under "very sad and unusual circumstances".On 18 May 2010, the National 
Assembly approved Jonathan's nomination of formerKaduna 
State governor,Namadi Sambo, for the position of Vice-President." NASS confirms Sambo as vice president".
Punch Newspaper "National Assembly confirms Sambo as Vice President" , Liberty News
2011 presidential campaign and elections
On 15 September 2010, Jonathan announced onFacebook that he had 
decided to run for public office on his own for the first time, in the race for the presidency of Nigeria in 2011.In the contest for the Peoples Democratic Party nomination, Goodluck Jonathan was up 
against the former vice-presidentAtiku Abubakar and Mrs.

Sarah Jubril. On 13 January 2011 the primary election results were announced in Eagle Square, Abuja.
Jonathan was declared winner with a victory in two-thirds of the 
states of the Federation counted.For the general election in 2011, Jonathan and Vice-President 
Sambo attended political events and travelled the country to campaign for the nation's highest office.
Jonathan won the general election against GeneralMuhammadu Buhari and his running 
mate PastorTunde Bakare with 59% of the votes.

Nuhu Ribadu for President 2011 :: Official Website. Ribadu2011.com (15 April 2011).
CNN report on the 2011 general election in Nigeria.
CNN. On 18 April, Jonathan was declared the winner of the election.
Major initiatives


Roadmap for Power Sector Reform
On 2 August 2010, Jonathan launched his 'Roadmap for Power Sector Reform‘.
Roadmap for Power Sector Reform. (PDF). Its primary goal was to 
achieve stable electricity supply in Nigeria.Historically, the Nigerian Power Sector has been plagued byPower 
outage. Economists estimate that power outages have 
cost Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy, billions of dollars 
in imported diesel for generators and lost output. In a study conducted 
by the World Bank, a lack of access to financing and electricity were 
cited as Nigeria's main obstacles to development, surpassing corruption. President Jonathan has 
overseen the privatisation of Nigeria's power sector with the end goal being 
the establishment of an efficient and reliable power 
supply infrastructure for the Nigerian population. 
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria, which acted as the nation's electricity provider, has been broken up into 15 firms, with Nigeria handing over control of state electricity assets 
to 15 private bidding companies. Nigeria takes next step in power privatization. Reuters.
The Nigerian government contracted for the services of CPCS Transcom Limited, a Canada-based consulting firm specialising in transportation and energy 
infrastructure projects, to act as the transaction adviser for the handover of state electricity assets.

(PHCN). Nigeria Electricity Privatisation.
Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria
On 11 October 2011, President Jonathan launched the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) 
Initiative which he stated would be an innovative business 
plan competition that harnesses the creative energies of young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
The YOUWIN Initiative is expected to create 
between 40,000 and 50,000 sustainable jobs by 2014.
Lead poisoning incident
In January 2013, Jonathan reportedly promised $4 million to assist in cleaning up villages that have been affected by alead poisoning incident.
Over 400 children have died and Human Rights Watch 
said that releasing the funds "could be lifesaving for countless children."
Transformation Agenda
In 2011, President Jonathan launched the Transformation Agenda.
The Agenda is based on a summary of how the Federal Government hopes to deliver projects, programmes, 
and key priority policies from 2011 to 2015, coordinated by the National Planning Commission (NPC).On 11 
September 2013, President Jonathan sacked the creator and coordinator of the Transformation Agenda, Shamsudeen Usman, the Minister of National Planning, along with eight other cabinet ministers amid a 
rift in the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Foreign policy
According to President Jonathan, Nigeria's foreign policy was reviewed to reflect a "citizen-focused" approach, designed to "accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the highest priority" and connect foreign policy to domestic policy, while placing 
a greater emphasis on economic diplomacy.
2015 presidential campaign and elections
On 31 March 2015, Jonathan conceded the election to 
challengerMuhammadu Buhari, who was sworn in to succeed him on 29 May 2015.

Jonathan said in a statement he issued on 31 March 2015 that "Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian." Isiaka Wakili, "Jonathan to PDP: Don't mourn my loss", Daily Trust, 31 March 2015.

Security challenges
On 26 August 2011, after the UN building inAbuja was bombed byBoko Haram, Jonathan announced that it was an attack not merely on Nigeria, but on the international community.
He told reporters that "we would work together with the UN and other world leaders to ensure that terrorism is brought under control."In response to the Movement for the 
Emancipation of the Niger Delta's attack on an oil pipeline on 4 February 2012 inBayelsa, the Senate President David Mark stated that the security 
situation in the country was "intolerable".On 14 May 
2013, Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three northeastern Nigerian states, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, to curtail the activities of Boko Haram.Greg Botelho, "Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declares emergency in 3 states", CNN, 14 May 2013.

Retrieved 4 June 2013. Although initially offering amnesty, by June 2013 he 
ordered a 20-year jail term for anyone found 
to be in support of Boko Haram. "Nigeria orders 20-year jail term for Boko Haram support".

Reuters, 5 June 2013.On 16 January 2014, it was reported that Jonathan had sacked his military high command in response to 
their inability to end the Islamist-led insurgency in Northern Nigeria.

"Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan sacks military chiefs", BBC News, 16 January 2014.Jonathan's administration was heavily criticized 
for its failure to bring back the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.

Many demonstrations called for the government to be more responsive; Jonathan asked that demonstrators focus on blaming 
Boko Haram itself for the abductions. Blame Boko Haram for the abduction of Chibok girls - Jonathan. NigerianEye.com Retrieved 24 May 2014 
Jonathan initially denied that there had been any abduction at all,
but then later signaled his government would do a prisoner release in exchange for the kidnapped girls.
Discussions then took place inParis with foreign ministers fromFrance,United Kingdom, theUnited States andIsrael,
where he agreed no deals should be struck with terrorists.

He then called off the exchange at the last minute on 24 May 2014.
This about-turn reportedly enraged Boko Haram leaders.

National issues


World Cup 2010
In 2010 after the Nigerian football team failed to progress beyond 
the group stage at FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Jonathan declared a two-year 
ban on the country's national football team from all international competitions 
and ordered an audit into the way the funds allocated for the team were spent.
FIFA, the world football governing body, resisted the 
investigation and stated that it would expel Nigeria from world football if the government interfered.
FIFA called for advice from Amos Adamu, the director general 
of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, who was sacked in the 
wake of a corruption scandal. After the world governing body threatened to suspend $8 million due to Nigeria for its participation in the World Cup, Jonathan bowed to pressure and lifted the ban.
Removal of fuel subsidy
On 13 December 2011, the 2012 fiscal year's budget removed any provisions for 
the existing fuel subsidy. According to a poll carried out by the Alliance for Credible 
Elections (ACE- Nigeria), 80% of Nigerians opposed the plan to 
remove the fuel subsidy.On 1 January 2012, the Jonathan administration announced the start 
of a controversial plan to end fuel subsidies. The government followed the advice of international experts that claimed the fuel subsidy ($8 billion per year, or 25% of the government annual budget) was not sustainable.
Brookings Institution, a think tank, praised the government's move, arguing 
that the subsidy crowds out other development spending, like education, and that it 
discourages investment in the country's economic lifeblood, the oil sector.Many prominent Nigerians 
spoke out against the removal of the subsidy. Former Petroleum Minister Professor Tam David-West has spoken out and expressed concern that the planned removal of 
the fuel subsidy will squeeze the economy, increase inflation, and hurt both businesses and the 
public.A former military Head of State and a former Minister for Petroleum among them were pro-Abiola advocates 
and parties involved with the university.
Some critics cited that the President did not submit an appropriate bill to the legislature for the change;
that the University's brand name should not be tampered with.
The UNILAG Alumni Association commented that although they do not have prejudice against MKO Abiola, they were concerned "that neither the Governing Council nor the University Senate nor any other stakeholder was consulted before the change was announced."Bola Tinubu congratulated Jonathan for taking action, 
but urged him to "do it right", adding that 
"we must be careful not to localise or sectionalise MKO".
The President has attempted to regularise the renaming 
of the school by submitting a bill for an amendment of the University's 
establishing law to the legislature.
Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act
In January 2014, Jonathan signed into law the Same Sex Marriage 
Prohibition Act after it was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives.
The law prohibits gay relationships, membership and other involvement in gay societies and organisations and gay marriages.
The bill comes after international polls showed that 98% 
of Nigerians did not think homosexuality should be accepted 
by society, the highest percentage of any country surveyed.

Penalties can be up to 14 years in prison for gay marriages 
and up to 10 years for other violations of the law.Associated Press 
(13 January 2014) Nigeria's president signs law imposing up to 14 years' jail for gay relationshipsThe Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
Within a short period, the federal police department compiled a list of 168 gay people who would subsequently be jailed.
Within days 38 lesbian and gay people had been jailed, with arrests beginning during Christmas.
The anti-LGBT bill stipulates that those who withhold the details of LGBT individuals face prison terms of up to five years.
His decision and the law itself have been described as controversial, but according to a poll,
92% of Nigerians supported the ban.
Controversies


October 2010 Independence Day bombing
During his South African magistrate court trial on 2 May 2012, the former 
leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND),Henry Okah, insisted that President Jonathan masterminded the October 2010 Independence Day bombing.
Okah told the court that President Jonathan and his aides organised the 
attacks in Abuja in a desperate political strategy to demonise political opponents, including 
former military President General Ibrahim Babangida, 
and to win popular sympathy ahead of the 2011 elections.The Nigerian Presidency has denied these allegations of 
terrorism leveled against President Jonathan. A media statement was issued on 2 
May 2012, acknowledging the accusations from Okah. The statement 
went on to say that: "The Presidency categorically affirms that these allegations are false in their entirety and without any factual foundation." The Presidency also expressed no interest in commenting further for the time being, but 
planned to "make a full representation on the matter to the court when the trial opens."In January 2013,
Okah was found guilty by a South African court of 13 terrorism-related charges and sentenced to 24 years in jail.
In January 2015, Jonathan stated that, due to his refusal to award 
MEND a higher share of the oil wealth, Okah bombed Abuja with the purpose of assassinating Jonathan.
Corruption
Jonathan's government has largely been described as corrupt.

According toThe Economist, corruption flourished under the Jonathan administration, "who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity." Large 
sums of money have been used improperly multiple times, with ₦ 3.98 trillion Naira ($20 billion USD) allegedly going missing "Nigeria: Missing U.S.$20 Billion - Sanusi Faults Alison-Madueke, Says Audit Report Proves At Least U.S.$18.5 Billion Lost", 
Premium Times. AllAfrica.com, 14 May 2015, and ₦ 398 billion Naira ($2 billion USD) of military funds allegedly dispersed amongst high-ranking officials.

"$2.1 billion DasukiGate: Key questions Jonathan must answer - SERAP",
Premium Times, 10 January 2016. In addition, Jonathan was alleged to 
have personally ordered over ₦ 3 trillion Naira ($15 
billion USD) from the Central Bank of Nigeria to support 
his election and other self-seeking projects under the guise of an intervention fund for 
national stability. Charles Soludo, a professor of economics and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, equated Jonathan's financial recklessness to 
that of former presidentIdi Amin. "Jonathan ran CBN like Idi-Amin – Soludo" Premium Times, 17 January 2016.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an economist and former Finance Minister of Nigeria, pegged 
Jonathan's administration as the main cause of Nigeria's 
economic woes in a lecture at George Washington University,Nomso Obiajuru, "No political will to save under Jonathan - Okonjo-Iweala", Naij.com.
although she later denied it. Low Savings: I Didn’t Indict Jonathan Administration, Says Okonjo-Iweala | Nigeria News FlightSince May 
2015, theMuhammadu Buhari administration reportedly has been fighting corruption that arose under Jonathan. Many former political office holders and 
appointees that served under Jonathan, as well as party members, have been arrested 
on various corruption charges.Jaafar Jaafar, "Ex-President Jonathan’s top aide, Waripamowei Dudafa, arrested at Lagos airport", Premium Times, 18 April 2016.
"EFCC arrests PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, over alleged corruption", Premium Times, Nigeria, 5 January 2016.
It is alleged that some, including former Finance MinisterNenadi 
Usman, have returned part of the money they stole.Adelani Adepegba and Eniola Akinkuotu, "Campaign funds: Jonathan’s minister returns N23m to FG", Punch Newspapers,
24 April 2016. Many of the corrupt officials that have been arrested have stated that they acted under Jonathan's 
instructions. Naija247news - Corruption: Why EFCC should arrest Jonathan – CD 
It remains unclear whether or not Jonathan, who is believed to have either masterminded or condoned the corruption, will be 
arrested.Anike Nwodo, "EFCC Boss Explains Why GEJ Hasn't Been Arrested", Naij.com.

Further reading
- Ayoade, John A., and Adeoye A. Akinsanya, eds.