Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan the despised one becomes the world’s most respected and honored African ex-leader living today!
On their citations: “President Jonathan must be applauded for creating a solid foundation for the growth of democracy in Africa. The world has started to recognize President Jonathan’s courageous act.”
Formal President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has been awarded the African Sun Times’ International Person of the Year 2015 for his role in ensuring a peaceful civilian-to-civilian transition in Nigeria.
The African Sun Times is the largest weekly African newspaper in America and had been in circulation for 37 years.
According to the organisers, the award was given to Jonathan “who shocked the whole world by swiftly calling current President Muhammadu Buhari and conceding his defeat in the March 29, 2015 Nigerian presidential election, thereby stopping the predictions of violent bloodshed in Nigeria, and keeping his word that he would not allow the blood of a Nigerian to be shed to further his political ambitions.”
The award citation added: “President Jonathan must be applauded for creating a solid foundation for the growth of democracy in Africa. The world has started to recognize President Jonathan’s courageous act.”
“ I insisted on transparent and credible election because I did not want anyone to question my mandate” – ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
“He put his country before his own interests and desire,” As was well described by Ambassador Johnnie Carson who introduced Jonathan to the crowd before his speech when he lauded the former President for not holding his country hostage on account of his ambition.
This same ex-leader Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan who has been made so low back home in Nigeria based on his critical decisions he made during his administration most especially how he handled the insecurity in the north East, the 2015 general election and the arms deal that has finally mudded up his image and the one of his political party the People’s Democratic Party still being reverends as a Symbol of democracy in action who sets example for other African leaders should follow ON NOVEMBER 20, 2015 by former United States President Jimmy Carter who poured encomiums on the former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
The 39th US President described Jonathan as a symbol of democracy on the African continent. Former President Goodluck Jonathan He made the remark while receiving Jonathan at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum located at the Carter Center in Atlanta, reports Reports Afrique. They were said to have held a fruitful meeting at the Carter Center where they held a wide-ranging discussion on global issues and shared views on how to promote peace, democracy and good governance in Africa and the world. Speaking on Jonathan’s time in office, Carter said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is the symbol of democracy in action. You set an example that other African leaders should follow.” The former American President also praised Jonathan for organizing a transparent election and easily conceding defeat and handing over to the opposition. By so doing, he said that Jonathan showed his deep democratic commitment. Responding, Jonathan said that his actions while in office were informed by his belief in a peaceful, transparent and people-oriented governance, adding that Africa can only move forward through democracy and good governance. He commended President Carter for the exemplary manner he had in his post-presidential life, adding that he was inspired by Carter’s commitment to causes that advance the path of humanity. Jonathan and Carter share a common experience as one term Presidents and have both retired involuntarily from politics while rededicating their lives towards making the world a better place. They both agreed that peaceful and stable government increase foreign direct investment and sustainable development. The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter and guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. It seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. Jonathan has been visiting many strategic pro-democracy institutions where he had been invited to share his experience in office as a promoter of democracy and advocate of good governance in Africa. He had so far been hosted by the Presidential Precinct in Virginia, John Kennedy School of Government, King Center as well as the Carter Center. While visiting the Presidential Precinct in Charlottesville Virginia, last week Jonathan assured the international community that African leaders were displaying more commitment to democracy and good governance, as a means of engendering sustainable development an improving the lives of the people. He is scheduled to speak a long side with Former US Secretary of State Johnnie Carson about elections, peace and democracy at the National Democratic Institute, and Howard University in Washington DC.
Co-hosted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jonathan spoke on the theme “Presidential elections and democratic consolidation in Africa: Case studies on Nigeria and Tanzania.”
He also chided the West for not taking cognizance of the democratic gains in Africa.
“America was called the new world when it was discovered but Africa was called the dark continent. The world does not get to hear the best stories about Africa’s electoral progress because they are not told by global media leaders”, Jonathan said.
He said Africans across the continent are rejecting leaders “who do not see themselves as elected representatives of the people” but rather as kings.
Jonathan also spoke of the 2011 election which installed him as President. “In Nigeria, some people believe that when you lose an election, you must go to court.. But I insisted on transparent and credible election because I did not want anyone to question my mandate “Five justices of the Appeal Court and all Supreme Court justices ruled that the election was free and fair, in fact the 2011 election is widely acknowledged to be the freest and fairest election since Nigeria got independence”, Jonathan said.
He said he could have contested the result of the 2015 presidential elections given the widely reported cases of malfunction of card readers but chose to overlook that factor because “I have served and I think it is enough”.
FameAfricanJournal editorial on post Goodluck Jonathan electoral defeat.
By FameAgidife.
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