Jonathan wins African leadership award.
.
. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has beaten former
Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu
and former United Nations Secretary General, Koffi Anan, to
clinch the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year,
2015.
Ex-president Jonathan also defeated the founder, ECONET
Wireless, Strive Masiyiwa; the Chairman, Heirs Holding,
Tony Elumulelu and the President, African Development
Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina.
This was disclosed by former Pro Tempore President of the
Liberian Senate and Chairman of the 2015 African
Leadership Person of the Year selection committee, Cletus
Wortoson,
In a letter to ex-President Jonathan, Wortoson said: “There
is no one best suited at the moment than your excellency,
to advise the continent’s leaders on the merits of good
governance and enduring democracy.
“Your popular mantra of ‘one man one vote’ and ‘my
ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,’ is a
message that must be preached loud and clear on the
continent, hence our endorsement.
"It is with great pleasure that I bring you the news of your
selection as the African Leadership Magazine Person of the
Year, 2015.”
The committee applauded Jonathan for his “uncommon
characteristics” in deepening democracy in Africa, adding
that “In adopting you as our choice, we placed a very high
premium on your commitment towards deepening
democracy on the continent – a characteristic which is
uncommon among most African leaders at the highest level
today.
“Chief among the many factors we considered was your
efforts towards promoting good governance in Africa
through the promotion of free and fair elections across the
continent.
“Your recent assignment to Tanzania received accolades
and international acclaim, because you discharged the
responsibility most creditably. “We resolved that there is no
one best suited at the moment than Your Excellency, to
advise the continent’s leaders on the merits of good
governance and enduring democracy.
“The board is fully persuaded that you have served your
country, Nigeria, meritoriously, conducted a free and fair
election, in which you lost and yet conceded defeat, a
development seeing by many in the continent as historical.
“Your popular mantra of ‘one man one vote’ and ‘my
ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,’ is a
message that must be preached loud and clear on the
continent, hence our endorsement.”
Recall that the award has been previously won by Liberian
President and Nobel prize winner, Johnson Sirleaf; former
Ghanaian President, John Kuffour; Founder of Mo Ibrahim
Foundation, Dr. Mo Ibrahim; Chairman, Honeywell Group,
Oba Otudeko and lawn tennis goddess, Serena Williams.
Recall also, that ex-President Jonathan also became the
first African leader to win the Martin Luther King human
rights award.
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