Totalitarian dominance within African Democracy

By

Ogunniyi Abayomi

The recent Ghanaian election was observed as the exemplary illustration of a democratic state within its sphere of power. The display of maturity during the election between President Mahama over the loss of the presidential seat to Nana Akufo-Addo exhibited the total value demonstrated for the satisfaction of the masses, rather than the selfish desire to rule.

Leadership is a lifespan achievement across the African continent. Aside from the values they fail to exhibit, the below par performances are outrageously disruptive to the image of our country and people but we live in silence endearing to its oppression of power in a deceitful approach.

Joseph Kabila was the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo within my childhood and teenage years; Kabila remained in that seat unperturbed and unopposed, but chose to attack those who spoke against him.

Robert Mugabe has been on the converted presidential throne of Zimbabwe for 36 years since its independence in 1980, seeking another term in power at 92 years of age until he attains the age of 99 which is the age he chooses to retire from power.

Libya’s choice to oust Gadaffi proves the extent as to how power is upheld in Africa as a personal attack and threat over human development in Africa. The recycling of leaders across the African continent shows the blind tales we embroil our mind to. We rigged the election and they treat the electorate the other way, adding public treasures into their personal custody, leaving the masses to suffer the consequences of wrong choices.

These senile beings believe the active generation deserve less to be qualified as president, it is rather disappointing that the young president of Gambia upheld that premonition by failing to concede to electoral defeat.

The past few weeks in Gambia has been volatile over the conflict between President Jammeh and Adama Barrow following the former’s defeat in the presidential election.

Yahya Jammeh did not accept the electoral result on the basis of irregularities from the electoral body, hereby assuming he remains the president if the electoral body fail to create an alternative measure to conduct another election in office despite completion of 8 years term as president. His protest persists despite the visit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegate to Gambia to suppress the protest and ensure Jammeh hands over to Adama Barrow to avoid further sanctions against him.

The movement to stop him proved more interesting as he took to the streets protesting with the Holy Quran in his hand to ensure he remained for a long period like the Zimbabwean elder Mugabe.

Rwanda cannot be excluded in this affair of totalitarianism when we remember Paul Kagame‘s third stint in power as the President, which is quite obnoxious to the masses and the cabinet.

We could borrow some leave from the Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts across the North sphere of the continent. The question remains that if we are ready to take such, are we really satisfied seeing the same people who we know should not participate in active political power?

Tyrannical affairs in the development and growth of society have endangered many lives of ordinary citizens who strive for a better means of survival. We likewise support them blindly whereas they create the phobia by oppressing us under their boots, our activist died and his protesters are in jail, those alive are those who yield to the torture while fellow citizens are kicked to rest in their graves when justice is silent within the lawless norms of the society.

Genocides are not forgotten, not 1994 but beyond 1994 in Nigeria, Rwanda, Egypt, Sudan and Mali respectively with regard to the families and friends of the victims. Things of this order are enacted for the leader to remain in power for absentia and a lazy mode of efficiency enslaving the masses, likewise the cabinet who ensure there are laws and order. For how long and enduring as long as we breathe is a routine often referred as a result of malignant affair with the masses.

Nigeria has been eluded by the way military personnel treat its citizens yet it still persists despite a more sophisticated system of government. We consider the action of General Ibrahim Babangida when he annulled the 1993 election using civilians as tools of manipulation to ensure they remain in power. The late General Sani Abacha, in his lifetime, enforced a decree to be declared as president without proper election.

This style of government cripples the citizens from benefitting from the development they have attained and work for. Where do we go from here if we are comfortable to suppression?

Totalitarianism is a system that enacts force into its policy and regulations against the masses. The masses in sphere are discarded because they are usually against their exploitative plans.

This form of leadership was created against the monarchical approach of leaders African society always had, excluding states whose leaders were religious. We replace and exchange colonialism with this system ensuring citizens are political and administrative slaves yielding little or nothing from their purse despite their sweat and struggle to survive.

Our ideology absorbs this system internally when power and choice are secluded from our hands. We are under pressure and overwhelmed by soothing speech yet bound to suffer for kicking against their ignorance.

Exemplary illustrations of a totalitarian abound within the African continent and the Middle East using military strength to enforce order and rules. Libya, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Congo, Syria and North Korea had a totalitarian dominance across their political domain that created a chaotic atmosphere within their society endangering millions of life.

Gaddafi, Abacha, Saddam Hussein, likewise Mubarak and Mohammed Morsi, lest we not forget Al Assad, whose existence as their president all destabilize society, demonstrating the ridiculous ambition over the realm of power and authority across the continent. The man who died in silence of oppression was those who by their voices were thrown to the grave beneath the boot of his oppressor.

The tale has become a regular expression within the cabinet and its political effect is minimal to its masses. The society are in a desert of no importance to sustainability of democratic system of government in Africa.

We dwell with the same sphere of influence in a dangerous and porous atmosphere yet we claim to be democratic. The longer we dwell is likewise a mile away from achieving our potential as a democratic state.

Violence was encouraged, we have seen the existence of rebels over professionals across socio economic sectors of society. This existence disrupts if there are leaders who have no plan for its citizens but to forcefully ignite and prosecute.

The continent is in disarray when their means of wealth are exploited creating an option to kill without justice. The saga continues when the actors do not leave the stage, for how long we do not know but the cast would die in your arms when there is no show of wickedness; then we can move to the next script of development.

Ogunniyi Abayomi

Ogunniyi Abayomi was born July 11, 1991 in the city of Lagos, where he resides. A poet and essayist whose works have been published in various journals.