Tuesday, October 25, 2011

If I Were African Leaders...on DEMOCRACY

The wind of democracy is beating all barriers and breaking strangleholds across the Arab and African worlds even as it will soon take its toll on other nations. No question. So, leaders beware!

But we focus on Africa. The AU being virtually absent in all the seismic happenings must now fully reengage if it should become relevant in the new dispensation. The past is the past only when we learn from it. Have we? Not many will say yes to that.

If I were African leaders, therefore, this is the time to face facts and embrace the truth: sit-tight syndrome is bad for all nations. All. Democracy is not a family affair, passed from father to child, to the brutal or benevolent exclusion of other contenders and the electorate. We must follow the lead of ECOWAS in confronting despots and defending democracy. Nothing less. (Thank you, patriots).

If I were African leaders, now is the time to give real bite to the peer review mechanism by asking all leaders to pledge to their nations a total commitment to democracy - in a live broadcast. They should keep fidelity with the law and obey, not manipulate, their nation's constitution.

African leaders must speak out, and promptly act - as one and all - against any violator.

2012 should keep the ugly past away!