Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been sworn in today May 6, as the 13th Head of Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a brief ceremony presided over by Yayale Ahmed, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the President’s oath of office was administered by the Chief Justice, Aloysius Katsina-Alu.
Dr. Jonathan took his oath of office as conducted by Justice Katsina Alu at exactly 9.47 am at the Aso villa.
His being sworn-in has made him the Head of State and Commander in-Chief, of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
His ascension to the position as the substantive president of the country was necessitated by the vacuum created by the death of former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who died yesterday, May 5, 2010.
The President was accompanied to the epoch making event by his wife, Dame Patient Jonathan.
In his acceptance speech, Jonathan pledged to run the government according to the dictates of the nation’s constitution, saying we must enshrine in the constitution the best way and method to run the government of the country.
President Jonathan reiterated his commitment to electoral reform, the fight against corruption and maintaining peace in the Niger Delta.
“Our total commitment to good governance, electoral reform and the fight against Corruption would be pursued with greater vigour,” Jonathan said after taking the oath of office following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
“Similarly the effort at ensuring the sustenance of peace and development in the Niger Delta as well as the security of life and property around the entire country would be of top most priority in the remaining period of this administration.”
Read Jonathan’s Inaugural speech here
He enjoined Nigerians to pray for the repose of the late former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The ceremony was not open to the public but present at the occasion were David Mark the Senate President, Dimeji Bankole the Speaker House of Representatives, Vincent Ogbulafor the national chairman of the President’s party (PDP), Ministers and members of the governors forum.
The Man “Jonathan”
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was born November 20, 1957 in Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the then Eastern Region, later Rivers State, now Bayelsa State.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours, Upper Division. He also holds a 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 and has two children.
Jonathan started his political career in Bayelsa as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, succeeded Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom.
He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, in December 2006; Jonathan was selected as running mate to Umaru Yar’Adua for the ruling PDP presidential ticket in the April 2007 election and was later sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007.
Due to the absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua from 23 November 2009 for medical treatment, the federal court handed Vice-President Jonathan the power to carry out state affairs in the president’s continued absence On 13 January 2010.
On 22 January 2010, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that the Federal Ministries had 14 days to decide on a resolution about whether President Yar’Adua “is incapable of discharging the functions of his office”.
On 9 February 2010, the Senate determined that presidential power should be transmitted to the Vice President.
He was appointed to serve as Acting President, with all the accompanying powers, until when and if Yar’Adua returned to full health.
On 24 February 2010 Yar’Adua returned to Nigeria but Jonathan remained the Acting President while Yar’Adua attempted to recover.
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure is expecting to end April 2011 as elections for a new government commences.
BELOW IS Jonathan’s Inaugural speech
NIGERIA: OUR NATION IN MOURNING
Address by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON, to the Nation on assumption of office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, today 6th May, 2010.
PROTOCOL.
1. My dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sense of loss and profound sorrow that I received the news of the passing on of His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2. Our President passed away peacefully in the Presidential villa in Abuja yesterday evening, the 5th day of May 2010. While we submit to the will of God as a people of faith, this sad event has placed our nation in deep mourning.
3. On behalf of the good people of our great Country Nigeria, I stand by our First Lady, Her Excellency Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, the Children, our Mother, Hajia Habiba Musa Yar’Adua, and the entire Yar’Adua family and offer our heartfelt condolences on the demise of our amiable leader.
4. President Yar’Adua’s contribution to political development and good governance would never be forgotten. He will therefore always occupy a pride of place in the political history of our dear Nation. He was a man of great personal integrity, deep devotion to God and outstanding humility. In all his public service, he displayed uncommon commitment to the peace, progress and unity of our country. He has left for us a profound legacy that provides a firm foundation for Nigeria’s future. His exit has therefore created a huge vacuum in his personal contributions to the political growth and development of our nation. I have lost not just a boss but a good friend and brother.
5. Having taken the oath of office in line with the Nigerian Constitution, under these very sad and unusual circumstances, I urge all fellow citizens to remain steadfast and committed to the values and aspirations of our nation. While this is a major burden on me and indeed the entire nation, we must in the midst of such great adversity continue to garner our collective efforts towards upholding the values which our departed leader represented.
6. In this regard our total commitment to Good Governance, Electoral Reform and the fight against Corruption would be pursued with greater vigour. As I had stated time and again, we must enshrine the best standards in our democratic practice. One of the true tests would be to ensure that all votes count and are counted in the upcoming General Elections. Similarly the effort at ensuring the sustenance of peace and development in the Niger Delta as well as the security of life and property around the entire country would be of top most priority in the remaining period of this administration.
7. I want to reassure all Nigerians that the pledges which we had made to improve the socio-economic situation which we face through improved access to electricity, water, education, health facilities and other social amenities would continue to be given the needed emphasis. The welfare of our teeming workers and the unemployed youths would also be accorded a new impetus.
8. My brothers and sisters, I call on all Nigerians to pray for the repose of the soul of our departed President. May God, in his infinite mercy, and compassion grant him eternal peace.
9. God bless Nigeria.
