Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the International Person of the Year 2015 award given to him by foremost African-American newspaper, African Sun Times.
While expressing his appreciation for the recognition, the former president dedicated the award to Nigerians for their role in ensuring that the 2015 general elections did not degenerate into bloodshed.
In a statement published on his Facebook page, Dr Jonathan said:
I thank The African Sun Times for naming me as its International Person of the year, 2015. I am indeed humbled by this honour. When I think about it, I understand why this medium may have thought me worthy of such an honour. However, I believe that my people, the Nigerian people, are more deserving of this honour. We, the Nigerian people put to shame naysayers and prophets of doom and in 2015, we held a most transparent, violence free and credible elections that transferred power from one political party to another and from an incumbent to the opposition, without rancour, bitterness or strife. In the process, we proved that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian or any national of any country for that matter. That to me, is a most worthy testimonial of the character of the Nigerian nation and the resilience of our people which is why I dedicate this honour to them. May God continue to bless Nigeria and Nigerians. GEJ