CHECKING SIT TIGHT POLITICAL CULTURE IN AFRICA

BY
ACHONWA UGOCHUKWU

The political history of Africa is replete with accounts of rulers who refused to relinquish power at the expiration of their tenure. The late Samuel Doe of Liberia, Mobutu Seseko of former Zaire, Idi Amin of Uganda are some African rulers who refused to part with power even when their regimes fell out of favour with the masses, Nigerians cannot quickly forget the late Head of State General Sani Abacha who almost completed his seli-succession plan before death came knocking. The Zimbabwe experience is still fresh in our mind as the political drama that brought the incumbent president to power in Zimbabwe could at best be described as the greatest political Armageddon in the history of Africa. Cote Devoir is today turmoil following the refusal of its defeated President Ghagbo to relinquish power to Quattara who is widely adjudged to have won the factors.
First, the sit right attitude of some African rulers demonstrates a measure of moral bankruptcy on the part of such rulers. In a decayed social structure, people act out their intentions without recourse to natural law. Sycophants and praise singers deceive such rulers in most cases to believe that they are the best as such their perpetual stay in office cannot be greeted with resistance or opposition. The existence of weak legislative structures in Africa creates loopholes for these power drunk rulers to perpetuate themselves in office. The implications of this unwholesome political behaviour are loxion. First, the trend heats up the polity as evident in agitation and demonstration from the masses. It also creates apathy amongst the electorate. The sit tight political attitude presents the victim nation in a bad light in the comity of a nation whose name is written in the black book of the world community finds it difficult to maximize the gains of international relations. Brain drain is another consequence of this unhealthy political culture.
Owing to anomie that characterizes such political environment, some of the best brains of the nation are forced to leave the country for a peaceful nation. Under such a fragile political atmosphere, development suffers as the incumbent channels his energies towards consolidation of power. During such period also, individuals considered as opposition to the ruling cabal are either victimized, incarcerated or sent to their untimely graves. Clashes between opposing groups also lead to the death of innocent citizens as it is being currently experienced in Cote Devoir. To checkmate this hydra-headed moster in African Political, African Union (AU) and other regional groupings should closely monitor the political behaviour of African Heads of Government. Actions of Heads of Government, which are considered repugnant to natural justice should be greeted with strong condemnation and appropriate disciplinary measures. The legislative structure of African nation should be strengthened.
This could be achieved by ensuring that only credible candidates are elected for the Legislative House. Seminars and symposia should be regularly organized for the legislators in order to be in tune with the essence and workings of the legislature. Railies should be employed by the masses to demonstrate their disapproval of the ruling institution. Media war can complement such efforts. The principles of checks and balances should be strengthened in Africa’s body politics, Executive wrong doings should promptly called to order by the other arms of government. Similarly, a reward system should be established to motivate rulers who meritoriously served their people and relinquished power at the expiration of their tenure of their Head of Government to close avenues for tenure elongation plans. Hence, as much as possible, the tenure of African Heads of State should not exceed two terms. Considering the insatiable nature of African rulers for power, it should become a rule rather than exception for heads of government not to conduct elections.
They should be made to step aside from power for at least six months to election thus giving room for an Interim Body to conduct election. As a prelude, the Chairman of the country’s electoral umpire should be appointed by the Judicial arm of the government thus reducing the over bearing influence of the executive on the Chairman of the electoral umpire. African heads of government should from time to time be subjected to psychiatric tests as the sit tight attitude in no small measure translates to mental aberration and strong demonstration of psychopath. Sit tight culture has not done any good to the African continent. This is why all efforts should be made by Africans to checkmate it in our political life.

Source: Recorded live from FRCN daily commentary