New York based TIME Magazine has named Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu among its list of 100 Most Influential People of 2023.
According to the Magazine, “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.”
TIME Magazine also included US President Joe Biden; the King of the United Kingdom, King Charles III; US Senator Mitch McConnell; Argentine football star, Lionel Messi and Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, amongst others, on its list.
Some entertainers on the list included US actor, Michael B. Jordan; US singer, Beyoncé; US actress, Angela Bassett, amongst others.
Tinubu’s catch phrase, “It’s my turn,” was a kudos to his role as a longtime political power broker. Tinubu helped restore the country’s democracy in 1999 after battling military rule and then served two consecutive terms as governor of Lagos.
However, Tinubu’s win for the ruling All Progressives Congress Party came in a tense election and by a slim margin over PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi who emerged as third.
The election was none of its kind as it offered Nigerian voters a third-party candidate, and many discontented young Nigerians yearning for change hung their hopes on Obi. Marred by allegations of intimidation and vote rigging, the outcome of the ballot is being challenged in court.