Jonathan falls short of $5m Mo Ibrahim Prize
ABUJA—Former
President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to win the prestigious $5 million Mo
Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership despite meeting a key
criterion. The announcement was made on
Thursday that no former African
leader
met the requirements for the 2015 version of the yearly award following a
meeting of the independent Prize Committee chaired by Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim.
“The Prize recognises
and celebrates African executive leaders who, under challenging circumstances,
have developed their countries and strengthened democracy and human rights for
the shared benefit of their people, paving the way for sustainable and
equitable prosperity.”
It said.
The award is also “a standard for excellence in
leadership in Africa, and not a ‘first prize’, there is not necessarily a
Laureate every year,” the foundation said. A winner enjoys $5m over 10 years
and another $200,000 yearly for life and can also ask for another $200,000 for
good causes he or she supports. So far, only the former presidents of
Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano; Botswana’s Festus Mogae; Namibia’s Hifikepunye
Pohamba; and Pedro Piers of Cape Verde have clinched the award. Ex-South
African President Nelson Mandela was awarded an honorary prize in 2007.
Although, Jonathan seems to have met the Prize criteria which includes Former
African Executive Head of State or Government, left office in the last three
years, democratically elected, served his or her constitutionally mandated term,
demonstrated exceptional leadership; it is unclear why he wasn’t given.
Allegations of massive corruption under his administration presently being
investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC
may have cost Jonathan the prize.
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