Former President Goodluck Jonathan missed out on the 2015 edition of the Mo Ibrahim prize for leadership despite his historic concession of the 2015 presidential election.
After winning the Martin Luther King human rights award, Jonathan was being tipped for the $5 million leadership prize, which is meant for a “former African Executive Head of State or Government,” who “was democratically elected, served his or her constitutionally mandated term, demonstrating exceptional leadership and left office in the last three years”.
Mo Ibrahim, however, disagrees that Jonathan delivered on this feat, saying “excellence means excellence”.
“There’s an issue about excellent leadership and that’s not an African phenomenon; look at Europe, look at Asia, over nine years couldn’t have picked out five exceptional leaders in Europe, in Asia.”
Advertisement
When asked by BBC if no African leader deserves to win every year, Ibrahim said: “Yes, exactly, it’s not because we are Africans, we have to accept substandard; excellence means excellence.”
“It’s a prize for excellence, it’s not an entitlement or a pension – we really seek excellence.
“The criteria are simple; we are looking for a leader who came to power democratically and transparently, then moved his country forward, made important key decisions which helped its people and then bowed out gracefully at the end of his or her period.”
Advertisement
When asked why the prize does not consider leaders within an African government, like Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was Jonathan’s minister of finance, Ibrahim said the prize cannot shift its focus.
“We cannot just keep shifting our focus here. There’s no doubt the president is really the focal point for decision-making.
“The responsibility of moving the country forward or backwards really lies with the president, not ministers.”
Ibrahim insisted that the prize is meant for unsung heroes in Africa, who do not really care about the $5 million prize money, and the $200,000 prize for life thereafter.
Advertisement
5 comments
I agree with the organizers.Beside,we have alot of visionary young Africans that such an awesome cash would have supported their dreams to becoming an entrepreneurs or study to become useful to their societies
When a father watches his children engaging in robbery and prostitution and keep mute, then he’s culpable of same offence, as he’s an accomplice and leader of that robbery-gang or prostitution-cartel/syndicate. Jonathan looked-away while his Ministers,Aides and cooks went on thievery spree, amounting to billions of dollars. Mo-Ibrahim,thank u for refusing to create ‘Moles’ in ur award of excellence. Jonathan is a scam himself.
I cannot agree less with Mo Ibrahrim, “excellence is excellence”..Jonathan’s leadership unfortunately cannot be adjudged excellent!
The alarming indication though is that this award hasn’t gone to any former african Presidnet in the last few years, questions being; are african Presidents not retiring? or has africa produce any credible (in the words of Mo Ibrahim foundation: excellent) ex-President recently? This really I suppose should be the benchmark of if there is anything close to an african renaissance or to me even if there is meaninful emancipation taking place on this continent
I cannot agree more* with Mo Ibrahrim, “excellence is excellence”..Jonathan’s leadership unfortunately cannot be adjudged excellent!
The alarming indication though is that this award hasn’t gone to any former african Presidnet in the last few years, questions being; are african Presidents not retiring? or has africa produce any credible (in the words of Mo Ibrahim foundation: excellent) ex-President recently? This really I suppose should be the benchmark of if there is anything close to an african renaissance or to me even if there is meaninful emancipation taking place on this continent
Problem is Nigerians love titles and awards so much! What has Mo Ibrahim got to do with Jonathan’s performance as the Nigerian President? Why are you guys so ignorant and fixated on stuff that has no substance such as Mo Ibrahim prize? It is only Nigerians and Africans that such will bother. I have not seen any of the Chinese leaders win any international award, does that mean that they don’t perform in their country? Remember that Obama won the Nobel Peace prize even before he had set out what his agenda in the office was going to be. What does that tell you about these awards? Mo Ibrahim is one of the imperialist shills in Africa, there are people like him all over the developing / third world countries. I have no regard for him and what he stands for period.