Goodluck Jonathan Fails to Win Mo Ibrahim Prize of $5m

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has failed to win the prestigious $5million Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership despite meeting a key criterion.

Sadly, 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, the largest annually awarded prize in the world, which was instituted in 2006 by Sudanese telecoms Billionaire, Mo Ibrahim, rewards former African leaders who demonstrated sterling qualities while in office, served their constitutionally mandated term; and demonstrated exceptional leadership.

So what happened that Jonathan "Our Hero" did not win?

“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.”

The award is “a standard for excellence in leadership in Africa, and not a ‘first prize’, there is not necessarily a Laureate every year,” the foundation said.

Any good African leader who wins the Award will enjoy

$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.

Allegations of massive corruption under Jonathan's administration presently being investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC is a big minus for him. Whatever you do, the world is watching. Do right!