The TIMES 100 list has a rather controversial addition

22nd April 2015 TIMES magazine has released its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world; this year’s list featured 6 Africans.

Bring Back Our Girls campaigner Oby Ezekwesili was honoured for her untiring efforts for the missing girls of Chibok and President Elect of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari was also named for unseating a sitting president and setting a new Nigerian precedent. President of Tunisia Mohammed Beji Caid Essebsi was the oldest person on the list, honoured because his election was Tunisia’s first free and fair presidential election.

Author Chimamanda Adichie was not surprisingly also named by the publication, as was Mustapha Hassan, a Sudanese man who has moved to Syria to help children affected by war.

The presence of Abubakar Shekau, leader of terrorist group Boko Haram, on the list was a highly controversial one. However the publication clarifies his inclusion by its reference to him as the most violent killer Nigeria has ever seen. The reply hasn’t satisfied too many people though, with many, especially Nigerians, arguing that it sends the wrong message.