Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has beaten many other high-profile nominees drawn from across the African continent to emerge the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year, 2015. The news was communicated to the former President in a letter signed by the former Liberian Pro tem Senate president and chair, 2015 African Leadership Person of the Year Selection Committee, Cletus Wortoson.
The nominees include former Secretary General of the United Nations, Koffi Anan; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; founder of Econet Wireless; Strive Masiyiwa; Chairman of Heirs Holding, Tony Elumulelu; Executive Director of UN Women, Mlambo-Ngcuka, President of African Development Bank, AfDB, Akinwunmi Adesina.
Wortoson 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. The letter reads,
“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.
“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.”
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