YES! THE JURY IS OUT: GEJ INDUCTED INTO TIME MIPW100 CLUB
Fellow
Nigerians, Time Magazine has initiated a poll for this years 100 most
influential global people and Pres Goodluck Jonathan has been short listed.
Let's all cast our votes for him via this link. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2107952_2107953_2109959,00.html
Like · · Share · March 30 at 3:33pm via BlackBerry
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The
Post above on my Facebook page over a fortnight ago, elicited all kinds of
responses ranging from support for the inclusion of Mr President’s name on the
list to outright disdain with some going as far as insinuating preposterous nonsense
such as foul play in the form of ‘bribery’.
And
finally I can breathe a sigh of relief, because the jury is out and Mr
President made the list of 100. The TIME magazine online headline announcing it:
“THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD” with the accompanying
rider “They are the people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and
change our world. Meet the breakouts, pioneers, moguls, leaders and icons who
make up this year's TIME 100” and GEJ’s name appearing as No. 62 immediately
below Obama’s 61, pretty much defined my mood for the day.
Yes, my spirits will be upbeat
today, because having felt a little bit ‘sad’ following Kim’s defeat of Sisi
Ngozi with matters complicated when I read her comments (I was peeved at the ‘selection’
jibe, it was totally unnecessary, because in my eyes, she had earned my respect
with or without the World Bank Job (this is gist for another day, by which time
I would hopefully have mustered up enough bravado to look beyond Obama’s
treachery to express my POV on the matter...hmm imagine Barack ); and then came James son of Ibori’s conviction;
bad as e be, I rose above the emotions and saw it for the allegory it is (read
previous blog post).
This excerpt
of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s of Liberia’s Citation on GEJ, pretty much drives home
the whole point of Mr President’s essence: “...Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan exemplifies
the African political renaissance at a time when the people of the continent
are starting to reap the fruit of their resources and their hard work.
President Jonathan, 54, possesses the qualities needed at this moment of great
challenges, having come to power at a crucial moment in the history of Nigeria.
The country has grown out of its past of corruption, mismanagement and
brutality, but the foundation of good governance is still fragile...He has also made a significant impact on consolidating
peace and security in West Africa. From the onset of our own crisis, Liberia
has benefitted from the support of Nigeria. President Jonathan not only upheld
the trend but added to it. With leaders like President Jonathan, Africa is sure
to move toward prosperity, freedom and dignity for all of its people”.
So today O, I will lift up my
voice and shout; “IT SURE IS GOOD TO BE A NIGERIAN!”. YES TODAY! I am pretty
much ecstatic, because I don’t need to rationalise my thoughts out of this one.
Who says validation and
affirmation on the World Stage isn’t good? Is that a smile I see tugging at the
corners of lips that had sworn this nomination wouldn’t see the light of day? C’mon
guys let’s toast to Nigeria’s Future........OTBN
OSA
For the full list of the chosen TIME 100 click here http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2111975,00.html
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