CNN) -- At over 246,000 and counting, he has more Facebook fans than the combined tally of British Prime Minister David Cameron, German chancellor Angela Merkel, and South African head of state Jacob Zuma.

Since Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's president, created his profile in June of this year, rarely a day goes by without a fresh update -- which appear to be written by Jonathan himself -- concerning recent news events, government policy and, of course, the coming elections.
He also seized public momentum and stole a march on his rivals by choosing the hugely popular social networking site to announce his standing for the forthcoming presidential elections in 2011.

"I Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by the grace of God hereby offer myself and my services to the Nigerian people as a candidate for the office of President" read his Facebook status on September 15, ending a long period of speculation about the likelihood of his candidacy.
"This is the first time in our country that Facebook has ever made the headlines of a national newspaper," Chude Jideonwo, founding member of influential Nigerian activist site Enough is Enough, told CNN.

Video: No violence from Nigerian power bid
Jideonwo notes that the surprise announcement was made at precisely the same time that one of Jonathan's main presidential rivals, former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, put his own election hat into the ring.

"Many people believe this was a strategic move to overshadow Babangida's announcement -- and if it was, frankly, it worked," said Jideonwo.
But the Nigerian president's Facebook activity appears to go beyond headline-grabbing stunts. In one fairly typical instance, he addresses a Facebook user who has made a suggestion for meeting Nigeria's growing energy demands:
"Again I spent time reading your comments and yesterday a youth named Toyin Dawodu indicated that he had an idea for a project that could deliver 4,000 MWs of electricity , Toyin, someone from my office will make contact with you regarding your idea. I know I can not attend to every comment or suggestion due to time constraints, but please do know that I read them and they influence my actions."

It's this direct and personal form of interaction that seems to be endearing the Nigerian president to his country's growing young and web-savvy electorate.
Each new post from Jonathan attracts thousands of comments and some have garnered in excess of 6,000 responses.
"What distinguishes Jonathan from other politicians is that he seems to have genuinely embraced Facebook," explained Jideonwo. "You can consistently hear his voice in the posts and it feels like he is really trying to communicate with the voters -- this is what makes him so popular."
With a population of over 150 million, Nigeria has just fewer than 44 million internet users, according to internetworldstats.com, and of these 1.7 million are on Facebook.

While this represents Africa's biggest internet market, as well as the continent's largest Facebook user base -- the numbers make up only a small proportion of the overall electorate.
Is it too soon then for social media platforms to play a meaningful role in Nigerian politics?
"What you have to bear in mind is that there is a critical minority of opinion leaders on Facebook -- local business CEOs, young activists, and university graduates," Ken Banks, founder of kiwanja.net, an information technology site that provides support for NGOs, told CNN.
The president's high profile on the world's biggest social network has not, however, escaped criticism. In a post that made international headlines, Jonathan claimed that a decision to reverse his proposed two-year suspension of the Nigerian football team following their early exit in the 2010 World Cup Finals was prompted by a wave of opposition from his Facebook followers.

But, as Nigerian journalist Tolu Ogunlesi told CNN: "The fact is his hand was forced by FIFA regulations preventing political interference with the national football team. His comments on Facebook were really just to protect his image."

For some, this is a worrying reflection of the incumbent president's use of social media to, perhaps cynically, bolster his election hopes.
"It's obvious that this is a calculated attempt to win the heart and minds of Nigerians who are active on Facebook, in a bid to secure electoral victory," Nigerian Internet entrepreneur, Oluniyi Ajao, wrote in a recent post on his popular blog.

Similar criticisms have been voiced by a number of the Facebook users Jonathan is attempting to engage: "We are tired of rhetoric, what we need is action," wrote one commentator in response to a post concerning Nigeria's frequent power shortages.

But, for the time being -- at least as far as Facebook is concerned -- any disparaging remarks are drowned out by a bellowing chorus of support.
"Whatever his motives," Jideonwo concluded, "the president has opened up a new channel of popular involvement in Nigerian politics, encouraging young people to feel like they have a voice. This can only be a good thing."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/10/01/goodluck.jonathan.facebook.profile/index.html

It's this direct and personal form of interaction that seems to be endearing the Nigerian president to his country's growing young and web-savvy electorate. Each new post from Jonathan attracts thousands of comments and some have garnered in excess of 6 ,000 responses. "What distinguishes Jonathan from other politicians is that he seems to have genuinely embraced Facebook," explained Jideonwo. " You can consistently hear his voice in the posts and it feels like he is really trying to communicate with the voters -- this is what makes him so popular ."

Exactly my mind. A person who listens and feels his people's pains. Not some dinosaurs living on a hill in minna or yola who think we're in the medievel ages with lords and servants.

slap1:

Lol. Na d same people!

Infact i was surprise when i saw this guy post. Why can't him just respect himself and make that post on business
section or computer and internet. Is a tropical example of those who want to make money with bulk sms as quick
as possible. I will also advice him to use facebook ad for that purpose.

It pisses me off when such thing occur. He also does it to other thread.Like"Appeal Court Declares Fayemi As Ekiti State Governor". I think he targets any thread that has the possiblity of making it to the homepage and he quickly eply to the post in order to have free traffic to his website.
But come to think of it, is there no moderator in the "Politics" Section? All this type of post shouldn't have been allowed
to stick longer before they will delete it. Now people are assuming I'm the same person.

Pls, we are 2 different people. The guy is just too desperate to make money with his amateur bulk sms biz. I just came across that article as i was browsing through CNN site and think it will interest my fellow Nairalanders.

It's this direct and personal form of interaction that seems to be endearing the Nigerian president to his country's growing young and web-savvy electorate.
Each new post from Jonathan attracts thousands of comments and some have garnered in excess of 6,000 responses.
"What distinguishes Jonathan from other politicians is that he seems to have genuinely embraced Facebook," explained Jideonwo. "You can consistently hear his voice in the posts and it feels like he is really trying to communicate with the voters -- this is what makes him so popular."
With a population of over 150 million, Nigeria has just fewer than 44 million internet users, according to internetworldstats.com, and of these 1.7 million are on Facebook.

It is these people loving qualities, his willingness to engage and genuine warmth that have endeared Jonathan to many, both nationally and internationally.
Go GEJ!

cnn copied that name(the facebook president) from me.
goodluck jonathan is a joker.
every nigerian knows what are facing here as problems and does not need facebook to know how we feel.
who does not know that we do not have steady power supply, bad roads, poor educational and medical systems, terrible electorial system, unindependent judiciary system, very police and security system? why is jonathan wasting our time and resources for nothing sake.

So everyone who is a fan to Jonathan on facebook likes him? What a funny generalization. I am his fan just to know what comes from the presidency not from him.

those facebook friend are fake. It some agent working. cnn does not know nigeria.

www.facebook.com/jonathangoodluck

Just for those of you who are yet to be his fans!!!!!


Holla back with love GEJ 4eva

No agent at work.
we all love Goodluck Jonathan.
Majority of us who are his friends on Facebook sincerely want him to continue
He is the right candidate for the job.

GEJ carry go

GEJ carry go

My question is, Where, when and how Jonatheif became a popular in fakebook and  had even won thIS title?and why the rest which he had found them there not?
But i am not mean insult to anybody,dont anybody insult me.

Emmysteve:

GEJ carry go

that expression always cracks me up whenever i see it. 'carry go'

He has some very sexy female friends on his face book profile, GEJ is a slick love-vendor!!!

GEJ chose the best means of communication and because he is not seen to act lyk a (Nigerian) politician, this gives him a edge. I just love him.

chakula:

My question is, Where, when and how Jonatheif became a popular in fakebook and  had even won thIS title?and why the rest which he had found them there not?
But i am not mean insult to anybody,dont anybody insult me.

MUGUL

oladayo042:

So everyone who is a fan to Jonathan on facebook likes him? What a funny generalization. I am his fan just to know what comes from the presidency not from him.

then de-fan yourself so we should know the actual number of his fans

estinjohn:

No agent at work.
we all love Goodluck Jonathan.
Majority of us who are his friends on Facebook sincerely want him to continue
He is the right candidate for the job.

That is far from the truth. I have at least 2 friends who do not plan to vote for Goodluck but are signed in as his friends on facebook. It seems that is the popular thing to do these days for many Nigerians who happen to be online, but does not necessarily imply they like him. You know how Nigerians are, they like to associate with that which is in vogue.

Good One Mr,President,  CNN Award as the Facebook president,i must believe you know what the people want from you and you are promising to deliver to the people,lot of souls are dieing and no food,shelter for the poor people in the country.

Abeg, is he really the one that updates his status or is it one of his aides?
I remember that while he was giving his declaration speech that the speech was uploaded to facebook.
Since he obviously was not on the internet while giving his speech it must have been one of his aides.

What do you mean by this guy?

e-mail:

MUGUL

Exactly my mind. A person who listens and feels his people's pains. Not some dinosaurs living on a hill in minna or yola who think we're in the medievel ages with lords and servants.

Well said

May heaven bless you.

A cool calm and connected president is what we need and thats GEJ not some rogues called IBB or Atiku

Kachi1:

Good One Mr,President, CNN Award as the Facebook president,i must believe you know what the people want from you and you are promising to deliver to the people,lot of souls are dieing and no food,shelter for the poor people in the country.

I hope so my brother, I pray criminals don't change the man because he has plenty of them around him

becomrich: link=topic=532429.msg6946081#msg6946081 date=1287150773]
those facebook friend are fake. It some agent working. cnn does not know nigeria.

orangemen:

cnn copied that name(the facebook president) from me.
goodluck jonathan is a joker.
every nigerian knows what are facing here as problems and does not need facebook to know how we feel.
who does not know that we do not have steady power supply, bad roads, poor educational and medical systems, terrible electorial system, unindependent judiciary system, very police and security system? why is jonathan wasting our time and resources for nothing sake.

Here they come!!!! Babangida's boys. Hitting their heads on the wall at every GEJ good news.

Meldrick:

Here they come!!!! Babangida's boys. Hitting their heads on the wall at every GEJ good news.

News Flash: Those supporting Goodluck are also supporting IBB in the end. These men are from the same Party and as long as PDP remains relevant, they both hold on to power, only IBB seems to hold more than Goodluck does, even as President.

Carry go jare, don't be discouraged about what some people say

News Flash: Those supporting Goodluck are also supporting IBB in the end. These men are from the same Party and as long as PDP remains relevant, they both hold on to power, only IBB seems to hold more than Goodluck does, even as President.

In your wildest dreams. If by power you mean stolen wealth and blood of innocent people, then may be you're correct. The same technic of starving people and feeding them with crumbs on from your palms that he hoped to meet will not be the case in every region of the country. IBB is a dinosaur waiting for extinction.

These GEJ endorsers no even fit cover  2 pages  

edoyad:


In your wildest dreams. If by power you mean stolen wealth and blood of innocent people, then may be you're correct. The same technic of starving people and feeding them with crumbs on from your palms that he hoped to meet will not be the case in every region of the country.  IBB is a dinosaur waiting for extinction.

Keep deceiving yourself by thinking words spewed out of hate for one party changes reality in someway!

In much the same way Obasanjo continues to remain relevant, even in Nigerian politics today, IBB does same, no matter how much more than Obasanjo you are willing to hate him. And Voting PDP simply means you are supporting having these men remain in power for longer.  That is the reality of the world we live in today in Nigeria.

GEJ, Winner of Best Facebook Member of 2010.

Shame, he has time to sit on Facebook while the country groans in negligence.
Abeg, to hell with this guy!

Ribadu 2011!