Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan has emerged the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year for 2015.
Jonathan clinched the award ahead of high-profile African nominees like Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General; Strive Masiyiwa, Econet Wireless founder; Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank of Africa and Heirs Holdings; Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women; Akinwunmi Adesina, President, African Development Bank and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress.
A letter signed by Cletus Wortoson, chair of African Leadership Person of the Year Selection Committee conveyed the development to Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid to President Muhammadu Buhari last year.
According to Wortoson, the selection committee and African Leadership Advisory Board places a very high premium on Jonathan’s commitment towards deepening democracy on the continent.
“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.
“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,” the letter announcing Jonathan as winner read.
