2012 Time's 100 Most Influential People In The World

When Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan made the list for Time's poll to pick the magazine's top 100 people that influence our lives, there was this feel that Time magazine editors had begun to recognize a volatile and troubled state that is Nigeria. Jonathan had been picked on "the twin imperatives of trying to end a bloody northern Nigeria Islamist rebellion led by Boko Haram and dismantle the fuel subsidies that are one of the country's main sources of corruption, requires bold leadership of Jonathan, who is finishing his first year in office."

However, the opening shot for Time's 2012 100 most influential people was the wonder Asian-American kid, Jeremy Lin picked against all odds that nothing is impossible. According to the Time editors, the 100 most influential people in the world are "the people who inspire us, and change our world -- from politicians and revolutionaries, to statisticians and roboticists. Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan made the list.

THE FULL LIST


ELLEN JOHNSON ON GOODLUCK JONATHAN


BARTON GELLMAN ON ANONYMOUS


JOE KLEIN ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA


CHARLIZE THERON ON SAMIRA IBRAHIM


ARNE DUNCAN ON JEREMY LIN


CICELY TYSON ON VIOLA DAVIS