Aged African Sit-tight And Recycled Leaders Are Threat To Democracy By Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson Aug 7,2025
Aged African Sit-tight And Recycled Leaders Are Threat To Democracy
Since in the early, 1960s, of attainment of Independence from the colonial masters till date, the syndrome of sit-tight and recycled leadership in Africa has been an obstacle to good governance in our beloved continent and the sufferers are the ordinary peoples.
Just imagine, the aged Cameroun President, Papa Paul Biya ,92, is again campaigning for another eight term despite is weakened outlook. He came to power in 1982 after the post-Independence ruler late Ahmadou Ahidjo , handed over power to him while he was away on sick leave and for the past four decades of misrule, the younger populations have only known Pa Biya in Yaounde.
The autocratic ruler has over the years crushed political opponents, suppression of the will of the people and no press freedom, and no
international media coverage in most state events apart from the state control local media managed by his disciples. The message is very clear for Papa Biya , the time has come for him to step aside. He has overstayed in power.
Did you know? The world longest serving President is found in tiny oil producing central African state of Equatorial Guinea under the dictatorial leadership of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 83, who has served as the second President of the former Spanish colony since 1979. He deposed his brutal Uncle Macias Nguema the first President of the nation in a palace coup d'etat in Malabo the nation's capital. Since , Independence in 1968 , it is only one family, the Nguema's , that has violently ruled the tiny oil rich nation and the maximum ruler has suppressed political dissent. Oh, I weep for my beloved continent and in East African state of Uganda, the 80 years old former National Resistance Movement rebel Commander Yoweri Museveni during the bush war against the ruthless dictator Idi Amin Dada in 1979, General Amin during his reign of terror thousands of Ugandans were killed and massacred by his ethnic dominated government forces and later Dr. Milton Obote second journey to power in 1980, ex-President Obote his the first President of Uganda defeated by Museveni well-armed guerrilla forces in 1986, conclusively Pa Museveni came to power in Kampala. Now again, campaigning to contest for the Presidential seat for another tenure as the sole candidate.
In West African state of Cote'd Ivorie ( Ivory Coast) aged President Alassane Quattara, 83, since 2010 has not learnt from the Ivorian past in the nation's political history's of seccession, he has quickly forgotten, what happened to his predecessors , General Robert Gue and Laurent Gbagbo dramatic scene. It seems he has a very short memory. Why our African leadership keep making the same mistakes over the years.
Some others notable tyrants include President of Eritrea Isaias Afirwerki,79 , a former guerrilla leader turn President , he has ruled since 1993 with a draconian approach..Since then, he has never spoken about who he will like to hand over power or conduct credible election.
It's highly regrettable that the aged President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa 82, has also failed to learnt from his predecessor his former Boss, Pa Robert Mugabe in the Liberation movement under Zimbabwea African National Union -Patriotic Front ZANU-PF . Pa Mugabe a Marxist Leninist, nationalist and Patriot of the Independence struggle against Ian Smith white minority rule in former Southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe ruled as the nation's first Prime minister later President in 1980s from the colonial master, the Great Britain . Overtime, on taking over power he became a Dictatorial ruler and suppressed all political opponents till he was ousted in a palace coup in 2017 led by his close Lieutenant in the Liberation movement Comrade Mnangagwa and since then, he have been in power and not ready to provide space for good governance, once known as a beacon of light in Southern Africa in the 1980s, was systematically being destroyed by Pa Mugabe's autocratic rule.
Dennis Sassou-Nguesso, 81, Republic of the Congo-Brazzaville, since 1997, he has previously served as President in the oil rich Central African nation 1979-1992 now grooming his son likely to succeed him in power like late Togolese longtime ruler,
strongman Gyassigbe Eyadema repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Togo from 1967--2005 till death ; whose son Faure Gyassingbe has been in saddle of power in Lome since 2005.where the nation's constitution was altered .
Despite the facts that Rwandan President Paul Kagame , the strongman of Kigali has tried to improve his nation's political and economic stability, but have overstayed in power as a younger leader. The prolonged rule is not a good political approach, there is needs for political reforms.
The problem in most African states , we glorify wrongs and see those sit-tights and recycled rulers as hero's. It is a shame that the laws of the countries are been thwarted and eroded democratic governance. No to constitutional amendment to prolonged rule.
It is really worrisome as a continent, the argument is that without these sit-tights and recycled rulers, there will be no good governance, the short answer is Big alphabet NO. The issue is simple they are not sincere,no intergrity and unpatriotic but greed for a personal gains; wealth that indefinitely put the ordinary citizens in continue abject poverty and under-developed, and leads to conflict of political instability.
Unfortunately there children's are in Europe, America and in recent times in oil rich Arab state of United Arab Emirate UAE etc enjoying the ill-gotten riches, while calling or using ordinary youths to fight in there political battles.
It is too bad till death , why? there is life after State House If there was a man that was worthy of celebration in Africa in power and politics is the veteran nationalist, the first President of South Africa Dr Nelson Mandela who ruled only one tenured, a great patriot and visionary leader. I must confessed that is a great role model , Patriotic and outstanding elderstateman in Africa and elsewhere around the world.
. It is sad, that there Longtime stay in power has weakened democratic institutions and has a profound impact on the continent. The most biggest problems associated to sit-tight and recycled leadership are emdemic , lack of democracy and its vast implications for development, abject poverty and lack of economic opportunities and the worst in recent times is the huge external debt crisis on the African economy and conflicts due to bad governance, weak Judiciary processes and electoral system.
I therefore appeal to all patriotic citizens in various nationhood to rise up and resist sit-tights and recycled rulers in African continent who are agents of western exploitation to undeveloped the people and causes instability.
Politics should not be allowed to steal or divide our much cherished peace and unity as a people. once seen as a beacons of lights in the 20th century.
JINBOBARAYE KARIBO-NELSON, JP, PMECRMI, SCIPM, CPSS, is a Social Commentator, freelance writer, and Security Analyst, an Alumnus of University of Port Harcourt, a registered member of many professional organizations such as, Fellow of Emergency, Crisis and Risk Management Institute of Nigeria, Senior Member Chartered Institute of Public Management Nigeria, Nigerian Legion, International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA), United States Institute of Peace (USIP). He also, an Elder of Ijaw Youth Council Eastern Zone, Elder (Warisenibo) of Obuoforibo Chieftancy War Canoe House in Ogu Kingdom and member of Wakirike National Congress (WNC) in Rivers State, Nigeria.
He writes from Obuoforibo compound, Ogu Town, Rivers State, Port Harcourt via www.jinelkaribonel@gmail.com,
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e-mail: karibonelsonj@gmail.com
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