African leaders need to emulate Jonathan, Mahama

It is very absurd for a president to refuse to quit office after losing an election, having ruled a country for 22 years. Yahya Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and had remained in office since then, even as not many Gambians supported his rule, as reflected in the December 1 presidential election. […]

It is very absurd for a president to refuse to quit office after losing an election, having ruled a country for 22 years. Yahya Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and had remained in office since then, even as not many Gambians supported his rule, as reflected in the December 1 presidential election. African leaders should learn to quit at the right time, and one way of doing this is to rule well. The fear of leaving office is sometimes caused by bad governance, as they feel that succeeding administrations would hold them to account for their deeds while in office. If a president rules well, there is no reason why he should be afraid of leaving office. Greed and avarice is another reason for this stay-put syndrome among African leaders. In the case of Jammeh, he was even offered asylum by some countries, yet, he chose to stay put. It is very surprising to see a president who has been in office for over 10 years and still aspiring to continue in office. Such leaders should take the example of Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan and Ghana’s former president John Mahama, among a few others, who quickly accepted defeat in elections. The names of such former leaders will attract respectable mention in the history of their countries than would those who plunge their people into bloodshed in their insatiable quest for power. What should be at the back of the minds of sit-tight leaders is that try as much as they would, someday, somehow, they must leave office. Therefore, it is better to leave honourably than be disgraced out.  

 Nigeria deserves praise for trying to help sustain democracy in Gambia despite the existing challenges at home. A true friend is known in times of crisis, not only in times of pleasure. That Nigeria decided to join forces in that country is worthy of emulation, and critics of the Nigerian government should realise that Nigeria is not taking the action unilaterally but in cooperation with other countries under ECOWAS.

Ukamaka Ugwu, Nsukka, Enugu State