PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria: Why African leaders embrace sit-tight syndrome (News Analysis by Abudu Babalola, PANA Correspondent)
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The sudden resignation of the Burkinabe President, Blaise Campaore, after 27 years in office, brought about by popular revolt, has again brought to the front burner the sit-tight syndrome among some African leaders.
This attitude, political analysts believe, makes a mockery of democracy and puts a question mark on the whole process of democratisation on the continent.
The situation in Burkina Faso has been the trend of political development in many African countries. The continent is replete with leaders who came to power through coups or elections, but after completing their constitutional tenure, are reluctant to go, even after spending between 20 and 30 years in government.
Countries in which the sit-tight scenarios have played out in recent times and has led to forceful removal of their leaders include Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and lately Burkina Faso.
Zimbabwe is one example of a country where its leader, President Robert Mugabe, has been in power since the Southern African country gained independence in 1980.
However, not all African leaders have been caught by the bug of the sit-tight syndrome because there are leaders who remained faithful to their oath of office and are not swayed by the pecks of office and the aura of power.
They quit the stage honourably after one term, even when they are urged to contest for another term.
A case in point is the late African legend, Dr. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who had all the opportunity to remain in power, but choose to leave.
After leading South African for just one term, Dr. Mandela quit the scene and today the Apartheid hero is still being celebrated even after his death.
Julius Nyerere of Tanzania is yet another African leader who demonstrated statesmanship in and out of office.
The big question is "Why do some African leaders go out to subvert the same constitution they have vowed to protect its sanctity?"
Olajide Abiola Bamisaye, Associate Professor of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, South West Nigeria, believe that the absence of effective checks and balances, privileges and pecks of office, are at the bane of sit-tight leaders.
”Most African leaders love power. because as the number 1 citizen, it’s more or less enjoyment galore. Because of the pecks of office and the glamour that surrounds it and because of their corrupt characters, such leaders amass wealth illegally. That is why some of them will like to remain in power," he explained.
Although many African leaders have been forced out of office by popular revolts in the past, the trend has continued even though the constitutions of most African countries clearly spelt out the tenure for each elective post. The leaders tinker with them to satisfy their selfish interests.
For example, in Nigeria a president is allowed two terms of four years each. But under President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the tail end of his eight years, an attempt was made to extend his rule in disregard for the provision of the constitution.
Experts said It is undemocratic and against democratic tenets for a leader to subvert the constitution and elongate their rule.
In most cases, the leaders connive with some political elites and the Parliament to achieve their objective. That was exactly what triggered the present constitutional crisis in Burkina Faso.
Sensing that the Parliament will go ahead to amend the constitution to allow Campaore extend his rule, the opposition, joined by the civil society and the people, burnt the Parliament building before heading to the Presidential Palace.
Dr. Moshood Omotosho of the International relations department, at the OAU Ile Ife, is of the view that many African leaders are yet to attune themselves to the fact that globalisation has created greater political awareness among the people.
He noted that the fear of the unknown, greediness, bad governance, weak political institutions like the Parliament, Judiciary, absence of true separation of powers, divide and rule tactics as well as corrupt systems provide fertile grounds for leaders to subvert the constitution.
Giving this situation, what can African people do to checkmate those leaders that might still be nursing the ambition of perpetrating themselves in office?
The international relations teacher said, ”I think the people should have that confidence building in themselves. They should pronounce it that 'we have the power and the power belongs to the people'. They shouldn’t allow the government to buy them over or induce them."
He added that the people should rally and align with the civil society to chase bad leaders away.
On the part of the civil society, they should create awareness. They should educate and enlighten the people on the power they have in the process of governance.
“The people also should not allow the government to use divide and rule tactics. They will just raise a clique to create havoc in the name of religion, in the name of ethnic politics to divide the people, because that is the only way they can remain there. We should see them as our common enemies. By the time we realise this and we put our hands together. We can fight this common enemy," he added.
Experts commended intervention and role of the sub-regional economic bloc, ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, in the Burkinabe crisis.
They advised that the International Community should sustain pressure on the Burkinabe military leader, to comply with the AU deadline.
On Monday, the AU, after the meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, gave the military two weeks to put in place a civilian-led transition government that will organise a credible election.
In the event of the military refusing to comply, the experts said economic, political and diplomatic sanctions should be imposed on the West African nation.
“All African leaders should be careful. It has started in Burkina Faso. It will spread like hurricane wind, who doesn’t want to leave honourably, will leave by disgrace and that is the message I will be sending across. African leaders should realise that it is by virtue of God Almighty they are there as President of a country. People should utilize the grace of God normally to do their best when elected," Prof. Bamisaye advised.
-0- PANA SB/VAO 7Nov2014
This attitude, political analysts believe, makes a mockery of democracy and puts a question mark on the whole process of democratisation on the continent.
The situation in Burkina Faso has been the trend of political development in many African countries. The continent is replete with leaders who came to power through coups or elections, but after completing their constitutional tenure, are reluctant to go, even after spending between 20 and 30 years in government.
Countries in which the sit-tight scenarios have played out in recent times and has led to forceful removal of their leaders include Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and lately Burkina Faso.
Zimbabwe is one example of a country where its leader, President Robert Mugabe, has been in power since the Southern African country gained independence in 1980.
However, not all African leaders have been caught by the bug of the sit-tight syndrome because there are leaders who remained faithful to their oath of office and are not swayed by the pecks of office and the aura of power.
They quit the stage honourably after one term, even when they are urged to contest for another term.
A case in point is the late African legend, Dr. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who had all the opportunity to remain in power, but choose to leave.
After leading South African for just one term, Dr. Mandela quit the scene and today the Apartheid hero is still being celebrated even after his death.
Julius Nyerere of Tanzania is yet another African leader who demonstrated statesmanship in and out of office.
The big question is "Why do some African leaders go out to subvert the same constitution they have vowed to protect its sanctity?"
Olajide Abiola Bamisaye, Associate Professor of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, South West Nigeria, believe that the absence of effective checks and balances, privileges and pecks of office, are at the bane of sit-tight leaders.
”Most African leaders love power. because as the number 1 citizen, it’s more or less enjoyment galore. Because of the pecks of office and the glamour that surrounds it and because of their corrupt characters, such leaders amass wealth illegally. That is why some of them will like to remain in power," he explained.
Although many African leaders have been forced out of office by popular revolts in the past, the trend has continued even though the constitutions of most African countries clearly spelt out the tenure for each elective post. The leaders tinker with them to satisfy their selfish interests.
For example, in Nigeria a president is allowed two terms of four years each. But under President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the tail end of his eight years, an attempt was made to extend his rule in disregard for the provision of the constitution.
Experts said It is undemocratic and against democratic tenets for a leader to subvert the constitution and elongate their rule.
In most cases, the leaders connive with some political elites and the Parliament to achieve their objective. That was exactly what triggered the present constitutional crisis in Burkina Faso.
Sensing that the Parliament will go ahead to amend the constitution to allow Campaore extend his rule, the opposition, joined by the civil society and the people, burnt the Parliament building before heading to the Presidential Palace.
Dr. Moshood Omotosho of the International relations department, at the OAU Ile Ife, is of the view that many African leaders are yet to attune themselves to the fact that globalisation has created greater political awareness among the people.
He noted that the fear of the unknown, greediness, bad governance, weak political institutions like the Parliament, Judiciary, absence of true separation of powers, divide and rule tactics as well as corrupt systems provide fertile grounds for leaders to subvert the constitution.
Giving this situation, what can African people do to checkmate those leaders that might still be nursing the ambition of perpetrating themselves in office?
The international relations teacher said, ”I think the people should have that confidence building in themselves. They should pronounce it that 'we have the power and the power belongs to the people'. They shouldn’t allow the government to buy them over or induce them."
He added that the people should rally and align with the civil society to chase bad leaders away.
On the part of the civil society, they should create awareness. They should educate and enlighten the people on the power they have in the process of governance.
“The people also should not allow the government to use divide and rule tactics. They will just raise a clique to create havoc in the name of religion, in the name of ethnic politics to divide the people, because that is the only way they can remain there. We should see them as our common enemies. By the time we realise this and we put our hands together. We can fight this common enemy," he added.
Experts commended intervention and role of the sub-regional economic bloc, ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, in the Burkinabe crisis.
They advised that the International Community should sustain pressure on the Burkinabe military leader, to comply with the AU deadline.
On Monday, the AU, after the meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, gave the military two weeks to put in place a civilian-led transition government that will organise a credible election.
In the event of the military refusing to comply, the experts said economic, political and diplomatic sanctions should be imposed on the West African nation.
“All African leaders should be careful. It has started in Burkina Faso. It will spread like hurricane wind, who doesn’t want to leave honourably, will leave by disgrace and that is the message I will be sending across. African leaders should realise that it is by virtue of God Almighty they are there as President of a country. People should utilize the grace of God normally to do their best when elected," Prof. Bamisaye advised.
-0- PANA SB/VAO 7Nov2014
