No one would believe what has happened in Tunisia and indeed happening in Egypt now. This is clear indication that Africa is regaining its true democratic strength to say NO! to bad leadership and chase the corrupt and heartless leaders out of office. When they say democracy is power to the people, many African leaders think of it in a different way. They would snatch power from the people and use it against them. By so doing, the people (the down trodden masses) are denied of getting access to the dividends of the countries resources which they (most African leaders) claim they are managing on-behalf of the people.
Indeed, the era of people against bad leadership (if not bad leaders) has come to Africa. The peoples of Africa, with the support of Africans in the diasporas, have welcomed this change befittingly. This will definitely shape the trends of leadership as well as governance on the African continent for the better. When Brazil changed five presidents in less than a month, it was strange to most Africans because in Africa even elections sometimes do not oust leaders out of power. Rather, they influenced the result to keep keeping them in power.
The first day I heard of the revolutionary act of the young Tunisian who burnt himself and died a few days after, I saw the arrow of change pointing towards Africa. It ended successfully with the president taking on his heels into a country that can never be called his own. His forceful exit has in every way shown that, Tunisians have woken up in their slumber to redefine ‘democracy’ by telling the world that power belongs to people, not selfish leaders who do not have the interest of the people at heart.
Egypt, on the other hand, responded likewise. Forcing for a leader to step down is not an easy task, but Egyptians vow to see that this task well accomplished irrespective of the pain and anguish that surround them. This single task (forcing President, Mubarak to step down) has cost Egyptians’ lives, injured many people, halt more than 50% of local businesses as well as put a stalemate in the running of government affairs. All these are not considered elements of a disorderly society, rather they are viewed are genuine sacrifices which people have offered for a positive change to take place.
The question now is which country is next? If Tunisians and Egyptians can under go this process successfully to show their dissatisfaction concerning decisions of their leaders, then “Africa Can”. By the way, according to rules of true democracy, it the people that have the power. This means that, if the masses (people) can vote a leader into a political office, the same masses have the power to chase the leader out of office. Unemployment, hunger, poverty are all products of bad leadership. It is important that people have in the Maghreb states have realize this. Other African countries suffering these traits should follow for Africa to be freed from the shackles of bad governance. The change has come and it has come to stay. African leaders should take note.
*** Art in Disguise ***
