The temporariness of power seems to be a lesson completely lost on many individuals, including African leaders, who find themselves in the position to wield it. Whether through the ballot or through the gun-barrel, many of those at the helm of African nations often realise, after they bow out, that power is an illusion.
The continent has seen exemplary and outstanding leaders like South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, and Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings, revered at home and abroad.
There have also been a host of tyrants and despots notorious for their misrule, including Idi Amin of Uganda, Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central African Republic, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, now Democratic republic of Congo, and Samuel Doe of Liberia.
These men are no longer living, but there are also several, whom fate has granted the privilege of staying alive to see the results of their rule … or misrule as the case may be.
The case of Africa’s one-time youngest head of state is nothing short of pathetic. Captain Valentine Strasser was 25 years old when he led a group of young officers to topple President Joseph Momoh of Sierra Leaone in April 1992. He was overthrown by members of his own junta, 4 years later in January 1996.
Strasser left for the United Kingdom, where he studied law at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. He dropped out after a year and returned to Sierra Leone where he now reportedly lives in penury.
The case of Strasser’s national next door neighbour, Charles Taylor of Liberia is probably worse. He is currently languishing in jail in the UK. Taylor literally shot his way into reckoning after waging an armed uprising against President Samuel Doe. Although Taylor eventually came to power through elections in August 1997, his fearsome reputation ensured only a token opposition.
He ruled with an iron bloody fist for six years, until forced to resign amid international pressure in 2003. He was eventually convicted of crimes against humanity at the international criminal court at the Hague.
For South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, he might still be a free man but he is still being dogged by justice as he continues to face criminal charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering, while in power.
In fact, Zuma is no stranger to the courts as, during his years in the presidency, he faced a range of charges including rape and corruption. After succeeding Thabo Mbeki in 2009, he was forced to resign in 2018 following a vote of no-confidence in Parliament.
In December 2020, South Africa’s Deputy Chief Justice ordered Zuma to resume testifying before the Zondo Commission, to answer charges of graft.
But it’s not entirely gloom for past African leaders, as a number of them, including Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, John Kuffour of Ghana and Liberia’s Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf have evolved into respected statesmen whose wisdom, experience and influence are being tapped, both in their home countries and across the continent.
If only leaders would remember that there is life after power, perhaps they would do things differently when they are in government. Except for those who ultimately desire to remain there for life. Even then, everything has an expiry date, including life itself.