Jonathan with the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris

A chronology of the five year reign of President Goodluck Jonathan, since he took over from late President Umar Ya’Adua:

— 2010 —

– May 6: Interim president Jonathan is sworn in, a day after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua following a long illness. Yar’Adua had disappeared from public life for more than five months, during which Jonathan stood in.

— 2011 —

– April 9: The first of a series of key election dates is marred by deadly bomb blasts.

– April 16: Jonathan, a Christian from the south, wins the presidential election against his rival Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the north. More than 800 die in post-electoral violence, according to Human Rights Watch.

– November 4: At least 150 are killed in a series of attacks claimed by extremist Islamist group Boko Haram against police stations and churches in its northeastern stronghold.

– December 25: A wave of attacks claimed by Boko Haram targeting churches during Christmas services and police leave nearly 50 people dead.

— 2012 —

– January 9-16: A nationwide general strike called to protest against a doubling of the price of petrol, which the government had previously set at about $0.40 (0.32 euros) per litre. Jonathan ended the strike by agreeing to a subsidy that fixed the price at $0.60 per litre.

– January 20: Coordinated attacks by Boko Haram against the symbols of power in the northern city of Kano leave 185 dead.

— 2013 —

– May 16: The army launches an offensive against Boko Haram in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where Jonathan declares a state of emergency.

— 2014 —

– February 2: Nigeria’s ruling party, weakened by mass defections and riven by months of in-fighting, is dealt a fresh blow, when one of its most senior figures, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, says he has joined the main opposition.

– April 6: Nigeria becomes Africa’s biggest economy, leap-frogging South Africa, after the government announces a re-basing of the country’s gross domestic product.

– April 14: At least 75 people die in a bomb blast in a bus station on the outskirts of Abuja — the deadliest attack yet to strike the city. Boko Haram claims responsibility. Two other attacks, in May and June, leave at least 40 dead in the capital.

– 276 teenage girls are seized from their school by Boko Haram gunmen in Chibok, a remote corner of Borno state. Fifty-seven of the girls manage to flee, while 219 are still captive.

May 7: Jonathan hosts the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja, an event aimed at highlighting the continent’s growing economic strength, but is overshadowed by the Chibok hostage crisis.

– August 24: Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau says in a video he has created an Islamic caliphate in the northeast town of Gwoza. The group has taken control of several dozen towns and villages in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

– October 17: The army and the presidency announce a ceasefire with Boko Haram and an accord for the release of the schoolgirls. Boko Haram denies the accord and says on November 1 the schoolgirls have converted to Islam and been married off.

– November 11: Jonathan announces he is standing for re-election.

He has been heavily criticised for having not stamped out the Boko Haram insurgency which has left more than 10,000 dead over the past five years.

AFP