Kenyan President William Ruto and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have recently been announced as finalists for the prestigious Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) “Person of the Year” award for 2024. Ruto garnered an impressive 40,000 nominations for the award, largely driven by public anger over a controversial finance bill, high levels of youth unemployment, and widespread frustration with government corruption.
The surge in nominations for Ruto came in the wake of intense protests in Kenya, where young citizens took to the streets demanding his resignation. The demonstrations were met with a heavy-handed response from security forces, resulting in casualties, injuries, and disappearances among the protesters. The unrest highlighted the growing discontent with Ruto’s leadership and governance in the country.
On the other hand, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secured a spot as the third finalist for the OCCRP award. Tinubu has faced multiple allegations of involvement in drug trafficking, forgery, and financial misconduct during his tenure. His administration has been marred by controversies, protests, and accusations of implementing policies that are considered detrimental to the Nigerian population.
Both Ruto and Tinubu have come under fire for their extravagant air travel expenses, which starkly contrast with the economic hardships faced by their respective countries. These lavish expenditures have further fueled public dissatisfaction and criticism of their leadership.
Despite being finalists for the award, neither Ruto nor Tinubu emerged as the winner. The prestigious title went to ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who was deemed to have caused the most havoc through organized crime and corruption on a global scale. Additionally, Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was honored with a special “Lifetime Non-Achievement Award” for his long-standing dictatorship characterized by repression, human rights violations, and systematic torture to suppress dissent.
The OCCRP award serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by corruption and organized crime in various parts of the world, and the need for transparency, accountability, and good governance to address these issues effectively.
