Following the death of Umara Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan has been sworn in as Nigeria’s president. Like Steve Bradbury, Australia’s first Winter Olympics gold medallist who came from behind to win when all of his competitors fell over, Goodluck Jonathan’s rise to the top has been simply a result of being in the right place at the right time.
Goodluck Jonathan went into politics in 1998 after working as an education inspector then as a lecturer. In 1999 he became deputy governor of Bayelsa state, riding on the coat-tails of the successful gubenatorial candidate, and then became governor by default when the elected governor was accused of money laundering and impeached. Jonathan’s term as governor was uneventful.
When it came time to select a running mate for Umara Yar’Adua in the 2007 presidential elections, the political situation required the selection someone relatively unknown, and Jonathan was the right man to play a low-key role. Now, once again following the demise of his leader, Jonathan has been thrust into the top job.
Of all the political positions in the world, the presidency of Nigeria is one of the most challenging. Nigeria is blessed with an abundant supply of oil, but cursed with corruption, under-development, and inter-ethnic and inter-religious rivalries. It will be interesting to see how Jonathan’s presidency evolves.