By Sunday Oyinloye, West Africa Editor.
Their list is long and they have many things in common, brutal with low level of human rights records. They dot many countries in Africa where they practically play the role of ‘’slave masters”. They are feared by their people who often pretend that they love them. Can you blame the people for their pretence? After all, they want to live .These Emperors would do anything to retain their seats even if it means using the blood of their people to hang on to power.
Of course, some of them have penchant for spilling blood to retain power, little wonder those who want to live have to fake loyalty to these tin gods in order to remain alive. Some of these leaders make the world to believe that they are committed to eradicating poverty in their countries when in fact; they are plundering the common wealth of the people, treating them as sub- human beings.
Welcome to the world of African sit- tight leaders who never learnt from history and have become maximum rulers in their countries. Men who have practically muscled out opposition and ready to silence whoever questions their authority.
No doubt, these so-called leaders have mastered their local politics, so they get away with anything they do. Robert Mugabe who founded ZANU a resistance movement against the British colonial rule in 1963 and was elected President in 1987 remains a bone in the throat of Zimbabweans. He cannot be swallowed and he cannot be vomited. Ironically, the man who led resistance against colonial rule has continued to rule his people with iron fist. His countrymen practically worship him and his wife, Grace.
Mugabe who was born in February, 21, 1924 has not seen any reason why he should allow a younger person to lead his country out of the woods. The expected change desired by his people has become a mirage, yet Mugabe treats his subjects as if he was not elected by them.
Reputed to be the oldest head of state in the World, Mugabe does not see himself stepping down neither does his wife; Grace sees any reason for the people to try another leader. For the President and the First lady, talking about succession is a taboo as long as the maximum ruler is still breathing.
The madness of what can the people do is not limited to Mugabe, Congo-Brazzaville President, Denis Sassou Nguesso is still hanging unto power after 31 years. No thanks to his controversial referendum in October last year which allowed him to extend his rule. The 72 year- old President in 2015 fired two of his ministers who were publicly opposed to his third-term bid.
He is however not alone in the third-term greed now common to African leaders. President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi who appears not to have learnt from history has thrown his poor country into turmoil due to his third-term ambition. Over 200 people are believed to have lost their lives since April 2015 when protests began against the third-term ambition of Nkurunziza. The armed conflict in his country between 1993 and 2005 when he became the President claimed an estimated 300,000 lives. This should have been enough reason for him to consider the future of his people but like many African leaders, personal ambition overrides national interest. This is probably the reason why some political analysts believe that Nkurunziza has learnt nothing from history. There are many leaders in Africa who do undemocratic things to retain power. A major trait of all of them is suppression of the people and blocking the ways of opposition.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila who succeeded his father Laurent Kabila ten days after his assassination is also toying with the destiny of his country. Kabila has been ruling DR Congo since 2001. He made history as the world’s first head of government born in the 70s. But this record seems not to be enough for him as he has headed for what some described as political suicide with his third-term ambition. But in Africa, anything can happen; it is usually the masses that pay for the greed and blind ambition of their so-called leaders. If Kabila succeeds, it will not be a surprise because Africans are used to paying with their blood for their leaders to cling to power.
Even the much respected former President of Nigeria ,Olusegun Obasanjo also toyed with third-term idea which would have thrown Nigeria into serious crisis. Interestingly, Obasanjo was one the front line of government troops that fought against the Biafran separatists in a civil war that lasted about three years in the late 60s and claimed millions of lives. Cross sections of Nigerians have berated him for the failed idea even with his denial of the ungodly move.
Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir is another President in Africa who has been hanging on power for long and who continues to rule his people with iron fist. Omar who is wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for his alleged role in Darfur crisis has continued to be defiant. Even with the international arrest warrant issued by ICC, he has been traveling out of his country.
Another leader with poor human rights record in Africa is a President with the highest number of titles in the world, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, a dictator who has held his country by the jugular for 21 years. The controversial “witch doctor” who claims to have cure for Aids recently declared his country an Islamic Republic.
Just like his co-traveler, Mugabe, the Gambian President likes to make uncomplimentary remarks against the west to paint a picture of someone fighting to liberate his people from neo-colonialism when in fact he is suppressing them.
The story is the same in other countries of Africa being ruled by dictators. They pretend to be champions of the people while they indirectly kill them with policies and programmes that further impoverish the people.
As another year begins, the eye of the world is on Africa and its leaders with good democratic credentials. No doubt, the world is also watching African dictators. Will they have a change of heart in the new year? Time and only time will tell.
