Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), in Atlanta USA Awards Former President GEJ

In a rather amazing fashion, Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan has made history with another international award in Atlanta, USA.

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.

Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan receiving his award 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.

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.”

Jonathan who also became a grandfather yesterday, was recently named the ‘Person of the Year’ by The African Sun Times, Africa’s number one and largest newspaper in the United States of America (USA).