Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. As Nigerian President elect. Ahmed Bola Tinubu emerged as one of the Time Magazine hundred most influential people of the World 2023 ahead of his inauguration as new President by 29th May this year, the development should serve as an encouragement to the 71 year new leader of the African most Populous nation that faces numerous hitches.
The Time Magazine selected Tinubu alongside with other personalities that distinguished themselves in various walks of life. Among them are ; the King of the United Kingdom, King Charles III; United States of America President Joe Biden, Senator Mitch McConnell; Argentine footballer, Lionel Messi and Twitter CEO, Elon Musk.
Others are entertainers like actor, Michael B. Jordan; singer, Beyonce; actress, Angela Bassett all from the USA.
The New York City based Magazine in the USA was established in 1923 and has a tradition of selecting the most outstanding people across the world every year.
Tinubu as Part of hundred Personalities form the 2023 list
Tinubu’s profile as given by TIME magazine read, “Winning an election in Africa’s most populous country is no easy feat. But Nigeria’s newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has had nearly two decades to prepare.
“Called Jagaban, or ‘leader of the warriors’, by his supporters, the now 71 year old ran in a presidential election for the first time this March.
His campaign slogan, ‘It’s my turn’, was a nod to his role as a longtime political power broker. Tinubu helped restore the country’s democracy in 1999 after fighting military rule and then served two consecutive terms as governor of Lagos.
But Tinubu’s win with the ruling All Progressives Congress party came in a fraught election and by a slim margin over Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
It was the first time Nigerian voters contended with a third party candidate, and many discontented young Nigerians yearning for change pinned their hopes on Obi. Marred by allegations of intimidation and vote rigging, the outcome of the ballot is being challenged in court.”Time Magazine stated.
The Challenges ahead of the new President
Tinubu now faces a litany of crises in a fractured nation, including deep-rooted corruption, religious insurgencies, and shortages of cash, fuel, and power in a crumbling economy.
But the Magazine said the President elect seems aware of his inheritance: “Nigeria is one country and we must build it together,” Tinubu said in his acceptance speech.
Analyst view on Tinubu’s emergence as one of the Time Magazine top world 100 influential people.
Dr. Reuben Abati is a public affairs analyst and former spokesperson to ex Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. He said such recognition by International Media organizations like Time Magazine is considered as an honor by those made the list.
He stated this when making a comment on the trending issue during the Arise TV popular Morning show on Friday 15th April.
Abati said that the selection is made by the Time Magazine editors with contributions of correspondents.
It is also like a usual happening in other news papers that they do man of the year and focus is not mostly on popularity but on the influence weather I’ll or good such as on environment , Politics and other aspects of human endeavor .regardless of the consequences of the action of the person that is being selected.
The media guru said that the beauty of the selection is that it features the essays or the short profiles of the selected icons.
He added that for this year’s list Nigerian President elect Ahmed Bola Tinubu is Part of the leaders category. along with American President Joe Biden among other leaders.
The paper acknowledged that the merger that brought Tinubu into power is narrow and is not easy to win elections in the African Most Populous country. And he said the description of the President elect. As the major power broker in Nigeria since the return of Democracy in 1999 the analyst said nobody will argue with that.
“He has been the senator of the federal republic, two time governor of Lagos state .The Paper stated that Tinubu emerged the winner of the 2023 election which was surrounded with fraud and irregularities” Dr. Rueben said.
And it added that the incoming President is aware of what he is inheriting from a divided country and a nation full of economic and security challenges..
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