Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emerged as the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year, 2015, ahead of other nominees drawn from Africa.
The nominees includes Strive Masiyiwa, founder, Econet Wireless; Tony Elumulelu, Chairman of Heirs Holding; Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women; Akinwunmi Adesina, President, African Development Bank; Koffi Anan, former UN Secretary General, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, All Progressives Congress.
The news was communicated to the former President in letter signed by 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.
“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 letter read.
“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.
“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,” says the Chair of the selection committee in a private letter addressed to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan