The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, popularly known as “GEJ” recently celebrated his 55th birthday.
It is on record that Dr. Jonathan started holding leadership positions during his school days. He was class captain in classes 3 and 4, Secretary, College Food Committee (CFC) class 3; house prefect, Matterson House classes 4-5. At the Rivers State College of Education, Rumuloumeni, Port Harcourt, he was secretary, Biology Department Academic Staff Meetings as well as department timetable officer (DTTO). He was also member, senior staff appointments and promotions committee. He has received several awards, best performing state Deputy Governor, an award by the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria; Honourary Fellowship, Nigeria Environment Society (NES).
From his employment history, Dr. Jonathan could also be described as a core civil/public servant. This is because he first worked as a preventive officer in the Department of Customs and Excise from 1975 to 1977. Science Inspector of Education, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Port Harcourt from 1982 to 1983; Lecturer, Dept. of Biology, Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt from 1982-1983; Lecturer, Dept. of Biology, Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt 1983 to 1993; Assistant Director (Ecology), Head Sub-Dept. of Environment Protection, OMPADEC from 1993 to 1998; he was sometime Deputy Governor, Governor of Bayelsa State as well as Vice President and acting President of Nigeria. He is currently the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria since 2010.
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is from Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, attended St. Stephen’s Primary School (now state school) Otuoke from 1961 to 1965; St. Michael’s Primary School, Oloibiri, Bayelsa State (where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in 1956) from 1965 to 1969; Mater Dei High School, Imiringi, Bayelsa State from 1971 to 1975; University of Port Harcourt from 1977 to 1983 (first degree); also bagged his masters and doctorate from the same university. From these, one can say he is a core south-south brought up.
He is a member of different professional bodies like Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN); Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON); Fellow, Nigeria Environmental Society (NES); Fellow, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigeria International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
Dr. Jonathan is a humane administrator who is simple minded and loved by his people; friends and colleagues. Nobody expected he will venture into the Nigerian politics. That notwithstanding, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan saw the need to boost the socio-economic with political interest of the common man as well as bridge the lacuna of rural/urban dichotomy of his people through the provisions of social infrastructure. Based on all these, he took to politics in the Fourth Republic and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the biggest political party in Africa. He was picked as running mate to the party’s flag bearer, D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha. The duo won the polls in 1999 gubernatorial election; consequently, Dr. Jonathan became the first deputy governor of Bayelsa State. After a fine and successful tenure, Dr. Jonathan repeated the feat where he led Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseiga popularly called ALAMCO campaign machinery. By the grace of God and the desire for Bayelsans to have a good government, the duo won the gubernatorial election again in 2003. As a result, Dr. Jonathan became a deputy governor for a second time.
His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is a man of great honour and outstanding integrity. He is a true statesman whose meritocracy, selfless services and exemplary leadership qualities bear eloquent testimonies to his professional and political successes. A seasoned administrator, an accomplished academic, a democrat and known technocrat.
Without mincing words, His Excellency has endeared himself to the common man on the street. To this end therefore, it is true to say that Dr. Jonathan’s administration will continue to fight against corruption, shun ostentatious life-style, indiscipline and arrogance. I am quiet convinced that he listens to genuine advice and constructive criticism from both old and young. This is because he is well exposed, educated, enlightened and astute politician cum academic who is being jealously and rigorously guided by elders and fathers to enable him move Nigeria to the next level.
One may boldly and proudly say that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was identified to be a great chld right from is tender age because of his attributes and rare disposition. I think that was why his paternal grand mother “nicknamed” him ‘Azikiwe’ as a striking smile to the great Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first and only ceremonial president Nigeria has ever got, the first Nigerian media mogul and the founder of the first indigenous and autonomous university in Nigeria, that is, the university of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to connote another great Nigerian to come in the nearest future.
As His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan celebrates his 55years on this earth, my special advice as a mass communication scholar and public relations practitioner based on my commitment to my country through informative, incisive, analytical including projecting and protecting image write-ups, I am to use this opportunity to say that presidency must not neglect public relations (P.R.). God Himself even used PR at the beginning of creation when He said: “Come let us make man in our own image and likeness”. Consequently, I don’t think there is any individual, organization or nation that would survive without PR because it goes beyond media relations. It is abundantly and crystal clear that since Dr. Jonathan assumed office as the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the nation has been set on a new pathway that is now bringing democratic stability and political serenity.
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Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, fscam. cpae, son, emba, ksq, is a mass communication scholar from first degree to doctoral level, public affairs analyst, and Assistant Director (Administration)/Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. (08036724193) charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
