Time magazine lists Tinubu as one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2023

NIGERIA'S new president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been named in Time magazine as one of the100 most influential people in the world during the course of 2023 having coasted to victory in Africa's most populous nation.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the other main gladiators in the contest were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. On May 29, President-elect Tinubu is going to be sworn-in in line with the dictates of Nigeria's constitution.

In recognition of the feat, Time magazine has recognised Asiwaju Tinubu as one of the main global characters this year. Other prominent people on the list include English monarch King Charles III, US president Joe Biden, Senator Mitch McConnell, Lionel Messi, Twitter chief executive Elon Musk, US actor Michael Jordan, singer Beyonce and US actress Angela Bassett, amongst others.

Asiwaju Tinubu’s Time profile 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 long-time 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.

"However, 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. 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 president-elect seems aware of his inheritance."