With the current surge in insurgency, terrorism, xenophobia and other crimes in Africa, one wonders what the editors and compilers of the TIME 100 List sought to achieve with including Abubakar Shekau on the list of 100 most influential global citizens.
For many reasons I find it hard to fathom. First of all Shekau is not a citizen of any country on earth that I know of. He has no face, no known family or relations. He is a coward, a ghost whose only appearance is from the safe cover of his recording equipment. Shekau is the singular reason some 219 girls may never be found or their lives never be the same. How then is his infamy now turned fame by the editors at Time?
On March 30 1981, John Hinckley Jr attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan of the US in a bid to gain popularity. Hinckley had this notion that if he was famous enough he would win over his dream woman, actress Jodie Foster. That is the level to which infatuation can drive a human.
If the editors at Time create an ideal partner in the fame accorded to its TIME 100 List, I’m afraid it will only lead to suitors, infatuated by that level of fame.
I demand an immediate apology for that error, and that his name be taken down from a list that has the likes of Muhammadu Buhari and Obiageli Ezekwesili who have given their all in the fight against the very thing Shekau represents.
*Hemenseter Butu is on Twitter as @hembuts
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