Written by MAKWAIA WA KUHENGA
“Goodluck Jonathan had found himself standing at the crossroads of chaos and potential greatness. He chose the latter.”
A commentator on Twitter IN the
preceding month, April, Nigeria went to the polls. Unlike its ugly past
and the political profile of a number of African countries, Nigeria now
stands distinguished in terms of the ideals of democracy where losers
gracefully concede defeat.
The person who, today, stands tall as a
leader who steered his country to the roll call of honour on the norms
of competitive politics is the former Nigerian President, Goodluck
Jonathan.
At the end of the polls which saw his
party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lose to the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC), the then sitting President immediately
conceded defeat, overturning the hackneyed African stereotyping of
African leaders being unwilling to leave office.
Reports said then that Goodluck
Jonathan; aware that he had lost the vote, subsequently called his
rival, Muhammadu Buhari to offer his congratulations.
In a country with that ugly history of
military take-over of governments, and for an African continent in
nascent democracy, this was extraordinary news indeed. For such news of
erstwhile leaders accepting the verdicts of a democratic vote has been
more pronounced elsewhere outside the African continent – in European
countries.
Most often than not, results of a vote
in the African continent has been followed by cries of “foul play” –
rigging and so forth. We in Tanzania have not been an exception either.
In the last polls, the opposition has cried - “foul” – to the extent of
even boycotting the swearing-in ceremonies of newly elected presidents!
So the good news from Nigeria last month
where winners and losers accepted the outcome of a vote with grace and
humility is instructive to us all in Africa – hence the bottom-line of
this perspective today. But it also brings to the fore the need to
respect constitutionality.
What is stipulated in the Constitutions
of our respective countries is foremost and certainly needs full
adherence. For example, in constitutions of most countries, the duration
of the terms of office of respective leaders are clearly stipulated.
This is the case with this country as in many other countries.
We now have a fourth President who came
to power after a democratic vote as his preceding three colleagues. All
of them did retire as to the letter and spirit of the Constitution of
this country, which is for a two-term of office, each counting five
years. On balance, all has gone reasonably well.
But this is not what we hear of a
neighbouring country, which before has had quite an ugly past marred in
fratricidal civil war. On face value of this country, one got the
impression of “tribal” hatred leading to enmity but in reality it could
as well have been the quest for power by a handful of individuals, and
for the heck of it!
For, a visit to this country, one forms
the impression that the people are reasonably amicable, they speak one
vernacular language and they get along together.
Now media reports right now speak of
bloodshed, people are revolting against the move by the incumbent
President to bend the Constitution to suit his wishes. The Constitution
stipulates for a two-term of office for an incumbent President, but the
incumbent wants a third term for himself!
Now there are reports of daily
demonstrations and several people have died at the hands of the police.
The way forward for Africa, therefore, will, to a large extent depend on
how its respective leaders adhere to the rule of law, that is the
supreme law of a given country, the Constitution.
When a given country’s Constitution
stipulates two five-year terms, thus it, it should remain so and
faithfully adhered. On the other hand, our leaders in Africa must also
emulate the Nigerian example as spearheaded by Goodluck Jonathan. He has
really been “good luck” for his country!
The rest of us in Africa will do better
to emulate him. And by the way, a cursory look at African leaders or
Third World leaders generally reveal a leadership of invariably youthful
people who can do something else after their tenure of office.
The market is full of all occupations,
such as consultancies, etc isn’t it? Does one has to become ‘president”
to the grave? Hahahahaha!
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