In a rather amazing fashion, Nigeria’s former president,
Goodluck Jonathan has made history with another international award in
Atlanta, USA.
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Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan receiving his award in Atlanta, Georgia. |
This is coming on the heels of local and international recognition
which has come his way since he conceded defeat to President Muhammadu
Buhari after losing at the 2015 presidential election.
The former president on Thursday, January 14, 2016, added to his
growing list of international awards after being honoured by the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to Vanguard, he got the Presidential Award in recognition
of his leadership in advancing human rights, social justice and the
fight for universal freedom.
The conference was founded by the late American Civil Right leader,
Martin Luther King Jr, in January 1957 and is currently led by Dr
Charles Steele Jnr.
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Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan displaying his award in Atlanta, Georgia. |
View more photos from the event below:
This award is one of the activities which will take place ahead of
the Martin Luther King Jr Day which comes up on Monday, January 18,
2016.
By this arrangement, ex-president Jonathan becomes the first African
leader to be so honored and has gained recognition by the president of
the SCLC, who has promised to work with the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation
to advance the cause of peace around the world and to bridge the gap
between people of color in the Diaspora and Africa.
After receiving the award, the ex-president appreciated the
initiator, saying the recognition will enable him work harder for the
advancement of democracy.
He said: “I thank the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference, for inviting and honoring me today, and
especially so, as this invitation comes right about the period when the
world stands still in recognition of the selfless sacrifice of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. When we think of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC), it is virtually impossible to separate
this worthy body from its founder, the late great Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr, or from epoch making landmark events of the American Civil Rights
movement.
“I am pleased to know that the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference is not just one of the great
American institutions, it is also one of her more potent vehicles for
the advancement of liberty and freedom for all God’s people. For that, I
also commend Charles Steele for his leadership and commitment to peace
and justice nationally and globally.
“The Southern Christian Leadership
Conference and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s principles of non violent
protests played a great part in the independence movement in my native
country Nigeria and indeed throughout Africa as a whole. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr witnessed the British Union Jack being lowered in Ghana
in 1957 when Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan African nation to gain
independence, an action which set off a positive chain reaction all over
the continent. In 1963, Ambassador Leslie O. Harriman, Nigeria’s
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who prosecuted our anti
apartheid strategy at the UN, testified of the support he received from
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in kick starting that noble effort.
“Suffice to say that the efforts of
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr in advancing Liberty and equal rights transcended national
boundaries. Speaking for my foundation, the Goodluck Jonathan
Foundation, I must say that I have been inspired by this great man and
the worthy institutions and legacies he left behind and I am further
inspired to continuing doing good and advancing human freedoms just by
being present here today.
“My personal takeaway from Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr, is service to God and the brotherhood and equality of
all men before their Creator. In keeping with that, I have learnt not to
look up to any man, except he is taller than I, or to look down on a
fellow mortal, except I am admiring his shoes.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously
said: ‘Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.
Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against
love’. Those words helped me deliver on my stated promise to deepen
democracy in Nigeria and in the process demonstrate through action that
nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. Once
again, I thank the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for having
me. May God bless you and continue to raise up from among you men and
women who will continue in the footsteps of your worthy forebears.
“It was also a pleasure to meet Naomi King, the sister of the
late American Civil Rights leader and founder of the SCLC, Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr, who was kind enough to attend the event and identify
with the goals and aspirations of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.
“By this award, I am further inspired to continue to work for the
advancement of democracy, peace and progress in Nigeria and Africa.”
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