Why African leaders refuse to leave power

Any kind of coup should be a thing of the past. Democracy is largely considered as the way to go or rather is seen as a modern way of leadership thus branded social development. This is particularly the way it is with nations inclined towards the west.

A leader in a constitution abiding country should respect the provisions of the law, President Pierre Nkuruzinza of Burundi is not exceptional. The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi signed in 2000 only provided for two-five-year terms for the office of the president. Why is Nkuruzinza pressing for a third term?

Why are most African leaders hungry for power and would do anything to cling on the seats of authority even when it is clear their popularity among citizens is fast dwindling?

This is the sole reason. Other factors you may think of come back to this, wealth.

Most African leaders take presidency as an opportunity to amass as much wealth as they can to increase their influence among ignorant citizens. A greater part of which is gathered through dubious means and often atrocities are committed in their pursuit for massive wealth. They do not love their countries; in fact they are the most unpatriotic self-centred individuals ever.

Colonel Muamar Gaddafi ruled Libya for 42 years until he was forcefully ejected from power. You do not want to know the kind of wealth he gathered during his regime. Gaddafi is even reported to have been the richest man ever on earth with a staggering net worth of over 200billion US dollars. Bill Gates was nowhere close to him. Eventually his dynasty came to a nasty end something he never foresaw.

Forbes.com ranks Angola’s president, Jose Edwado as the richest president and among the wealthiest persons in the world with a net worth of 20billion US dollars. Forbes again ranks the likes of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who has stayed in power for over 25 years among the top ten. President Paul Biya of Cameroon now 31 years in power also sneaks into the list.

What is common with African leaders mentioned above is that they are all among, if not the wealthiest in their respective nations. Then the question comes, what about rich presidents in African countries that have grown democratically? Presidents in democratic countries like Kenya seek power to protect their interests which is the wealth they already have and also create more at that time they will be in the helms of power.

Perhaps this is where our very own President Uhuru Kenyatta comes in .He is also among the top ten richest presidents in Africa. Some of the property his family own have always raised eyebrows with regards to how they were acquired during his father’s regime. 

Contrary to African rulers, leaders in the west seek for power and not wealth. The two are very different. Unlike in Africa, they do not fall among the richest in the countries they lead. They are nowhere close to the de la crèmes for example, US president Barrack Obama is considered the most powerful man in the planet, but his name cannot feature, when talking about the likes of Warren Buffet, Carlos Slim and the Bill Gates of this world.

 

It is for this reason that one may conclude that our African leaders have never had our interests at heart. They would insist to be president even when people are dying protesting their stay in power like in Burundi.

If a chance to vote comes, citizens should not cry foul when they vote in leaders of this kind. Africans should endeavour to elect leaders of high integrity whenever democracy knocks at their door. This perhaps is the only way to change.  Change is talked about during elections but is never significantly realised.