The relationship between Goodluck Jonathan and Barack Obama existed while they were in office, and later their relationship became controversial when Jonathan accused the Obama administration of meddling in the 2015 Nigerian presidential election to ensure his defeat.
Interactions During Jonathan's Tenure (2010-2015)
During the tenure of the two leaders, they held several meetings where they discussed various issues, including:
· Strengthening US-Nigeria relations, with a focus on "strengthening the friendly relationship" between the two countries.
· Consolidating democracy and fair elections in Nigeria; Obama congratulated Jonathan on the historic 2011 elections.
· Economic development, including energy, power generation, and agriculture.
· Security challenges, particularly the recurring threat of Boko Haram, and US cooperation in fighting terrorism in Nigeria while respecting human rights.
· And the fight against corruption, which Obama urged Jonathan to prioritize.
Allegations After His Presidency
In his 2018 book, My Transition Hours, and subsequent interviews, Goodluck Jonathan claimed that the Obama administration, including then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, showed bias during the 2015 elections.
Jonathan alleged that Obama took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to the Nigerian people just before the election, which he interpreted as a message urging them to vote for the opposition candidate (Muhammadu Buhari).
He also claimed that the US and Britain increased pressure against his government's advice to postpone the election by six weeks to allow the military to recapture territories controlled by Boko Haram and ensure voter security.
Jonathan expressed frustration with the actions of the Obama administration, which included refusing to sell fighter jets to Nigeria due to human rights concerns, claiming this intensified the fight against Boko Haram and ultimately contributed to his electoral defeat.
The U.S. government, through a spokesperson from its embassy, responded to the allegations, stating that Washington's goal was to offer advice to ensure the election was conducted fairly and justly, and that the result was "the choice of the Nigerian people."
There have been no recent interactions or meetings between Goodluck Jonathan and Barack Obama in 2024 or 2025. Their relationship remains historical, defined by their interactions as heads of state and Jonathan's subsequent allegations regarding the 2015 election.