Jonathan wins African Leadership Magazine Man of the Year Award

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emerged as the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year, 2015.

Jonathan emerged ahead of many other high profile nominees drawn from all over Africa including Dr. Strive Masiyiwa, founder, ECONET Wireless; Mr. Tony Elumulelu, Chairman of Heirs Holding; Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank; Dr. Koffi

Anan; Former UN Secretary General; and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

National Leader, All Progressive Congress, Nigeria.

The news of the award was communicated to the former President in letter signed by Senator Cletus Wortoson, Former, Liberian Pro tem

Senate President and Chair, 2015 African Leadership Person of the Year

Selection Committee.
He noted that the Selection Committee and the African Leadership Advisory Board placed a very high premium on Jonathan's commitment towards deepening democracy on the continent, adding 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.'

'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.'

The letter said further: 'It is with great pleasure that I bring you the news of your selection as the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year, 2015.

Man & MP; Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women; Dr.

Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank; Dr. Koffi Anan;

Former UN Secretary General; and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National

Leader, All Progressive Congress, Nigeria.
'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.
'This resolution was reached after a constructive assessment carried

out by the committee, which included members of the advisory board and

the editorial team, including: Dr. Joyce Aryee, former Ghana Minister

for Education; Rt. Hon. Kenneth Merende, former Speaker of kenya’s

10th Parliament and Chairman of the board of Kenya Power Company; Dr.

Tahir Aktar, Chairman, Adams Holding Plc, Dr. ken Giami, Publisher,

African Leadership Magazine.'
A list of past recipients of the African Leadership Awards include

H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President of Namibia, H.E. Jakaya

Kikwete, former President of Tanzania; H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma,

President of Sierra Leone; H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,

President of the Republic of Liberia; H. E John Kufour former President of Ghana, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder Mo Ibrahim Noble Prize for Leadership; Dr. Donald Kebaruka, former President of the African Development Bank Group; Hon. Xavier Luc-Duval, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Republic of Mauritius.

Others are Mr. Mohammed
Dewji, CEO METL Group, Tanzania, Mr. Alonzo Fulgam, International Coordinator, USAID; Chief Oba Otudeko of the Honeywell Group, H.E President Hage Geingob of Namibia, Congressman John Lewis, American Politician and Civil Right Activist, General William E 'Kip' Ward,

former Commander US-Africa Command, Sport Icon Serena Jameka Williams.