African Leaders and the President For Life Syndrome

by Susan Enuogbope Majekodunmi
– USA –

As a child growing up in Nigeria, I was familiar with military coups. I would wake up in the morning and on TV a new President in military uniform would state that there had been a coup and he was now our new leader. He would order everyone to stay home until the situation stabilized. Later that night, on the 9pm news, he would reappear to tell us how he was the person to rescue the country from the clutches of the one he seized power from. However, time would show our new leader repeating exactly what he accused his predecessor of doing, many times to an even higher degree. As time passed, it would also become obvious that our new president had no intention of leaving office, ever.

Since I no longer live in Africa, I had begun to forget those days, but the recent occurrences in Zimbabwe have reminded me of them. The desire to be “President for life” is a curse in the minds of many African leaders who are notorious for overstaying their welcome. Ugandan President, Idi Amin asked to be addressed as “His Excellency, President for Life.” Many African leaders are carried out of office in coffins.

In Nigeria, military dictator Sani Abacha, who seized power from his fellow military predecessor, annulled the June 12th, 1993 democratic election of Chief Moshood Abiola, a civilian businessman who, by all accounts, won the election. Abacha refused to give up power and Abiola fled abroad for his safety. However, he was lured back to supposedly take what was rightfully his, only to be swiftly charged with treason and killed while in Abacha’s custody. Since I lived close to Abiola’s residence at the time, I witnessed the chaos and violence his death caused as many people took to the streets to protest.

Many of these “leaders” don’t have lucrative careers to return to when they leave office. Four years of being president is not enough time to siphon away enough money to last a lifetime. Pessimistic though it may sound, there are more corrupt than honest leaders in Africa because it’s a way of life. The prevalent mentality is that all money is good money; the source is of no consequence, so making money through any means is indirectly encouraged. The life of luxury, the steady stream of gifts, the unquestioned access to the country’s funds and being catered to by “yes-men” are all too good to let go of at the end of a presidential term. I don’t think African leaders are civil enough to leave, though they know logically that it is not right to cling to power. They just can’t help themselves. They either try to find cunning ways to stay in power as President Segun Obansanjo of Nigeria did when he tried to change the law, extending his eight-year tenure, or they completely disregard due process like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. He is not the first, nor will he be the last African leader to do this.

I also think African leaders act the way they do is because from childhood, African boys are socialized to be arrogant, self-centered, egotistical and unaccountable to anyone. They grow up to be men who are the same way, only now with more power to wield. In many African homes the man’s word, no matter how ridiculous, is law and he is accountable to no one; his family members are entirely at his mercy. Unless they are exposed to the western world, and choose to embrace some of its culture, this mentality stays with them. Why then do we expect them to suddenly change because they become leaders? Charity begins at home – if they are not accountable to their wives and children, how can they be expected to be accountable to their countries?

Unfortunately, this same “I can do what I like and get away with it” mentality only reinforces the negative stereotypes that some western media outlets perpetuate about Africans, encouraging the rest of the world to think of us as people to be exploited versus people to be respected.

Indirectly or directly, on purpose or unintentionally, these media outlets infer that Africans are uneducated, uncivilized or not enlightened; that nothing good is in or comes from Africa; that we only live in huts and walk around partially nude, doing crude ceremonial dances like those depicted in National Geographic; that Africa is a continent of jungles, dotted by villages inhabited by cave men and women; that Africans have not seen anything modern until they visit the western world; that Africa is “never-never land,” and may as well be on another planet. And most importantly, that there are no consequences for treating Africa or Africans badly.

When we treat each other unfairly in the full view of the world, this causes Africans to be treated as inferior people in the western world. African leaders need to realize that respect is earned. If you act foolishly, you, your country, its citizens and the continent will not be respected. The the “President for life” mentality of many African leaders is embarrassing to both continental Africans and Africans in the Diaspora.

As an adult living in America, the differences I see between African and American politics and their political leaders are clear. Though western world politics, such as the American political system, are not perfect by any means, due process is usually followed and there is some fairness inherent in the process. In Africa, there is blatant disregard for due process and fairness. Politicians go to extremes to get what they want; hired assassins eliminate some would-be contestants, elections are marred with irregularities and fraud, politicians and/or their supporters employ thugs to cause trouble for people who don’t support them.

There is also a clear distinction between the military and the government. The western President doesn’t have dual authority unlike the Nigerian President whose title is “President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces.” In the Western world, no person from the military can take over the government.

There is also more free press in the west. Journalists and writers don’t have to fear for their lives when they write. In Africa, if you write a story that offends someone in power, you and your family can easily disappear.

African men in Africa get away with so many things because African countries lack the social networks and criminal justice and legal systems that the western world nurtures. Africa and its leaders have a model to follow in American politics if they choose to. Even if African leaders can’t emulate their American counterparts when conducting their affairs, they can at least start by leaving office when their time is up. This will show everyone that they respect themselves, their country, its citizens and due process and will improve how Africans are perceived by the world at large.

Only time will tell what will eventually happen in Zimbabwe. I have no doubt that another African leader will do the same thing in the future. It’s a never-ending cycle of someone attempting to hold on to power, forever by declaring himself “President for life” and forgetting the reality that nothing lasts forever.

About the Author
Susan Enuogbope Majekodunmi is a freelance writer, songwriter and the Managing Editor of Glory International Magazine. Originally from Nigeria, she has worked in various fields and is currently exploring her creative interests. She is also avid reader and currently lives in Ellicott, Maryland.