Jonathan Becomes First African Leader to Win Martin Luther King’s Awards

Ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was on January 14th honoured by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. He was awarded with the Presidential Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing human rights, social justice and the fight for universal freedom.

The SCLC, founded by the late American Civil Right leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, in January 1957 is currently led by Dr. Charles Steele Jr.

The event is part of the activities leading up to the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday, January 18th, 2016. Jonathan is the first African leader to be so honored.

Jonathan also met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s sister, Naomi King during the event. Before his remarks at the event, Jonathan met privately with the president of the SCLC, Dr. Charles Steele Jr, who proposed to work with the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation to advance the cause of peace.

Former President Jonathan responded that his vision is to help stabilize and promote democracy and peace in Africa. He went on to say that without peace you can not have economic progress.

Jonathan expressed his gratitude and said it is “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.

“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”.