Time Magazines list of 100 Most Influential People in the World

Despite the efforts by the Boko Haram to disturb the  Presidency of Goodluck Johnathan and the stability and peace of Nigeria, President Goodluck fought and still fights to protect his citizens by battling the poor development, cancerous corruption, ceaseless ethnic tension, and cataclysmic terrorism by  Boko Haram.  In this year's 2012 Time's " The 100 Most Influential People in The World," President Goodluck Johnathan was pronounced the 62nd most influential person in the world, immediately under President Barack Obama. This is what Times had to say about him:

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan exemplifies the African political renaissance at a time when the people of the continent are starting to reap the fruit of their resources and their hard work. President Jonathan, 54, possesses the qualities needed at this moment of great challenges, having come to power at a crucial moment in the history of Nigeria. The country has grown out of its past of corruption, mismanagement and brutality, but the foundation of good governance is still fragile.

In two short years, President Jonathan has shown the same dexterity he demonstrated as governor of Bayelsa, the same ability to find the remedies to the many complexities of running a nascent democracy. He has spearheaded the fight against corruption and turned Nigeria into an example of good governance. He has also made a significant impact on consolidating peace and security in West Africa. From the onset of our own crisis, Liberia has benefited from the support of Nigeria. President Jonathan not only upheld the trend but added to it. With leaders like President Jonathan, Africa is sure to move toward prosperity, freedom and dignity for all of its people.
Times' The 100 Most Influential People in the World Article 

My Opinion:

President Goodluck Johnathan has so far served a very tumultuous term, beginning with the death of former President Yar' Adua, violence surrounding the political elections, increasing ethnic hate crimes, and subsidy related violence and riots. During such hardships , the Boko Haram radical islamist group has seized every opportunity to overthrow the government and disrupt Johnathan's presidency by provoking and amplifying already existing ethnic tension and confounding the citizen's faith of their security under the Johnathan administration. Boko Haram's sole aim is instability, the instability that would create havoc, abandonment, and insecurity. It is these three "social breakdowns" that would encourage the people to reject the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and surrender to the separation of Nigeria into exclusive ethnic tribal nations or to the implementation of Sharia Law. Both of which are equally leading to the political goals of the Boko Haram which is the dismantlement of the existing Nigerian government and transition to a self-governing North rid of fear of other ethnic/tribal influences.

I am extremely proud of President Goodluck Johnathan who is working to establish a national identity for The Federal Republic of Nigeria that will enable all the various tribes to coincide in peace. The challenges he has faced and overcome has proven that he is reassuringly the strong leader Nigeria needs to overcome its consistent recurring issues to progress to a more developed nation. I believe that the subsidy removal was also a great decision as he plans to utilize the money to improve the education system in Nigeria as already seen with the Almajiri schools commissioned in Northern Nigeria and Edo State. This was not only an effort to reform the overall education system but as well to reconstruct the underdeveloped North, appeasing both ethnic tension and disparity felt by some Northern Muslims. With the fuel subsidy, his installment of the bus program did indeed help the fuel subsidy transition, but it also broached on Nigeria's problems with infrastructure and social resources. Some of the measures that the president have not been taken before or have evoked extreme opposition, however I strongly believe that these measures were imperative, and essential for the advancement of Nigeria.

Time, "The 100 Most Influential People in the World." Accessed April 25, 2012. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2111975,00.html.