Dawn of new era in Burkina Faso

The election of Roch  Marc Kabore, the former prime minister  of Burkina Faso as the winner of the nation’s first presidential election since a coup  earlier last year has set the country back on a democratic footing. The election took place on November 29, 2015. But more telling is that his victory represents a pivotal […]

The election of Roch  Marc Kabore, the former prime minister  of Burkina Faso as the winner of the nation’s first presidential election since a coup  earlier last year has set the country back on a democratic footing. The election took place on November 29, 2015.
But more telling is that his victory represents a pivotal moment for the West African nation, which has been ruled by leaders who came to power in coups for most of its history since independence from France in 1960.
According to the Independence National Electoral Commission, Kabore, who served under ousted President Blaise Compaore, would become the country’s first new leader in decades.
 Kabore, 58, got 53.5percent of the vote, while his main rival, former Economy and Finance Minister, Zephirin  Diabre got 21.6 percent of the vote.
Kabore was also president of the National Assembly under Compaore, who was toppled by an uprising in October 2014 after 27 years in power.
He broke with Compaore early last year and formed an opposition party and vigorously campaigned against Compaore’s bid to change the constitution and run for a third term.  This has won him many supporters who were obviously tired of the ‘sit tightism’ of Compaore, a trend of African leaders to perpetuate themselves in power that has become out of fashion.
 Blaise Compaore first seized power in a coup in 1987  from Thomas Sankara, who was killed in the coup and thereafter won four  elections that were seen not to be free and fair in 1991, 1998, 2015 and 2010.
When he was forced to resign  in October last year the army took over when revolt intensified over his plan to change the constitution to contest for a third term. General Honore Traore said he had taken over. Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida however became the country’s military leader.
But the African Union (AU) condemned the military takeover, saying it acted unconstitutionally and gave the military leaders two weeks to end the military rule.
 In fact the President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan at that time, John Mahama of Ghana and Macky  Sall of Senegal visited Burkino Faso to press for quick handover of power to civilian rule, representing ECOWAS,  the West African regional body.
In the long run Zida handed over to Michel Kafando who was chosen by a special committee as interim president to lead the country until this year’s election.
Kabore’s victory is not however without criticism. Some do not see it as novel, since he was a prominent official under Campaore, and therefore it is not something to celebrate.
Nevertheless, the people should be commended for having a peaceful election after the political uprising that threatened the peace of the country.
People should be patient since he got the majority votes, as the important thing is to have peace. So the earlier the people accept that Compaore’s second in command is the president the better for all, as those against his emergence on that ground would only drag the country backward, while they should  look forward to a new era.
This election is much anticipated after so many years under Compaore,   as such this is the time for the country to come together as one.
It may take years, but gradually the country will get over the years of being under the leadership of one man for decades, and people will have the opportunity to vote for people of their choice. Though at the end the majority carries the vote, and people have to live with it and await another round of elections.
The country should take cue from Nigeria’s election where the incumbent was defeated and the heavens have not fallen, putting to shame the doomsday predictors that the election would make Nigeria to disintegrate.
Since President Muhammadu Buhari took over on May 29, this year, the country is still intact.
Meanwhile , this is an opportunity for the country to improve on its hard won democracy. The whole world look up to see the development the new era will usher in.