Buhari, Shekau Join Time’s 100 Most Influential Persons

Nigeria’s president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari,  and leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau,  are among the Nigerians who made Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in the world.
Other Nigerians in the list are Obiageli Ezekwesili, who was listed in the category of leaders alongside Buhari and Shekau, while Chimamanda Adichie, notable author, was in the category of artists.
Writing a tribute under the title ‘A New Choice for Nigeria’, Time’s Africa bureau chief, Aryn Baker,  lauded Buhari for becoming the first candidate to oust a sitting Nigerian president through the ballot box.
However, Carter Ham, a retired US army general, described Shekau as the most violent killer that Nigeria has ever seen.
He said the decision of Shekau’s sect to align with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) may summon a US response.
Chimamanda and Ezekwesili were commended for their respective roles in the development of the country.
Nigeria’s outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan,  Nigeria’s first Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka,  minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy; Ngoji Okonj-Iweala,  business mogul and Forbes-acclaimed richest African, Aliko Dangote, Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade,  and US-based Nigerian computer engineer, Philip Emeagwali,  are some of the Nigerians who have made the list in the past.