I write in frustration, wonder and perhaps anger. I write in charged language, something that l don’t usually do.
The death of Omar Bongo, Africa's longest serving President has drove me to deep thought and reflection. The man had been in power since 1967! President Mba, the first leader of Gabon had with a rare decision reminiscent of those endowed with prophetic unction, rightly discerned Omar Bongo’s indisputable potential when he was only 27 and appointed him Vice President of the country five years later. In less than 9 months, Mba himself died thus paving way for Bongo. Through an analysis of the dictators that have unfortunately graced this earth like ,one notes that through events, some baffling, they became convinced in their hearts that they had a special ‘confidence of God’ to lead their country. Hitler felt the same way when he miraculously survived an assassination attempt. Mugabe’s mother always told him ‘how God had predestined him for ununusual greatness’ The list goes on. Maybe these people are indeed gifted, but it often gets into their heads and they stray. The essence of democracy is distrust in giving any mortal absolute power as we all have within ourselves that desire and propensity to dominate other people forever.
Anyway, since his appointment, Bongo never looked back. He influenced the election of his son Ali Ben Bongo to the Vice Presidency of the Gabonese 'Democratic' Party and then appointed him the country's Defense Minister. One does not need to think hard to see a man slowly fortifying his position and setting his family for dynastic rule. He tolerated no opposition and he clearly wanted a dynasty. He is known to have said 'Africa without France is like a car without a driver’ Yes you have just read that!. He actually thought if Africa did not have France as its partner we would just go off the cliff like a typical car without a driver. Now that’s unAfrican and un Presidential to speak as if Africa’s destiny lies in the benevolence of France. It’s wrong and it’s astounding to witness a President put his foot right into his mouth.
This is the same guy who had the power to change his country’s health system since he was in power for so long but he did not even trust his own doctors and hospitals which is why he went to Spain. It’s typical of many leaders. They remain in power; shout about democracy and patriotism yet all their children are in foreign schools. They buy clothes, cars, even food from outsde.They even go for ordinary hospital checkups abroad. Now if one is a good leader,they should not shy away from getting the same serivece they create and expect everyone else to use. Their children must go to those public schools that they refuse government funding while they shamelessly spend all the money on jets and stash the money in overseas accounts. Sometimes l feel these politicians should be forced to user the same services they run down. Now,on a hilarious note, it has been rumored that Omar Bongo actually owned more real estate in France than any French citizen! At the time of his death, he was already under investigation for alleged corruption
The guy amended the constitution in 2003 to scrap term limits to the Presidency. Everyone else has a limit in office but not the President. He appointed his family members into positions of authority and thus entrenched his rule. With extra cash from oil, Gabon should be way much better than it is. Gabon cannot be measured against its neighbors; rather it should be measured against its vast potential. With so much oil, Gabon should be a heavyweight in Africa. With a population of less than 2 million, who should struggle in Gabon? Alas that’s not the case
However, as l received the news of his death,l had an epiphany; we are all mortals. Clearly men like Mugabe, Bongo; dos Santos, Gaddaffi don’t see themselves as such but as we keep seeing, these men shall die. It’s obvious hey? Sometimes its not. Remember many Iraqis could NOT believe that Saddam had died. They thought he could not die. There is something psychologically damaging to us who leave under dictatorships. These men begin to appear immortal. I know, waiting for someone to die has in itself an in built sense of resignation to fate, a desperation to it but the mortality of man encourages me and gives me hope that indeed these dictators will leave this earth they have tried to own. When you become so headstrong that people leave you alone and wait for you to die, you are no longer human. In African culture, there is a concept on Unhu, and we say munhu asina unhu haasi munhu-meaning you a human being without morals or ethics is not human at all. Our culture is rich and it has no place for pretenders like Bongo and Gaddaffi and sadly my own President who could have been legendary but for the love of power and arrogance, we all wait for him to go as well
Some won’t go, let them be warned that the chicken always come home to roost. You treat people like things, they will respond to you like things. Dictators and arrogant leadership often precipitate the formation of extremist groups. Not condoning their extremism in any way, our focus should be more on appreciating that extremist groups are an expression of a dysfunctional leadership system in a country. Extremist groups share the same values with dictators; no respect for life and a stubborn belief that they are the embodiment of truth itself. When the President Viera was assassinated in Guinea Bissau, it was clear soldiers were acting (wrongly) out of frustration with his leadership. I hope these dictators will know what they are nurturing as they keep taking us for a ride. Whatever it is, let them remember that we are all mortals. There is a limit to which you can mistreat, rob, kill people and still get away with it. There is a tipping point
You don’t want national borders to be sealed just because you have died. No curfews or unnecessary roadblocks are necessary. All that reflects the passing of an empty egomaniac. A man who at the centre of his heart lay a gigantic nothing. A man who shamed Africa and impoverished his rich country. Gabon is too rich to be where it is now. When you die there shouldn’t be any vacuum or fear of a succession battle. He had time to handle all that but he didn’t. That’s a sign he had personalized the government. Typically that not necessary
On a different note, we still see the filthy hand of international interference in the form of France. As in Madagascar, the French are proving to be a major obstacle to development in Africa. They bankroll and strengthen the position of dictators on the continent. Bongo was considered 'wise ' by Former President Jacques Chirac. Can you imagine? Different French Presidents including Sarkozy were more interested in exploiting Gabonese natural resources than the welfare of the nation.
Africans should remain resolute in our belief in our ability to lead our own countries.However, its time to turn on the pressure on the remaining 'Big Men' of Africa. Turn on the heat! God bless Gabon and may God strengthen the will of those who work tirelessly y to dismantle and paralyze the remaining dictators in our great continent.
