A continent in search of leaders

I knew it would come to this. And it came as early as I'd predicted. It was at a forum the very year it was instituted. I am talking about the Mo Ibrahim Africa Leadership Prize.

At that forum many had argued that the $5 million prize and the $200,000 per year ‘salary' for life was too big and that Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese entrepreneur who instituted it would soon run out of fund to finance it.

Those who thought so were of the view that being the biggest individual prize in the world, well ahead of the much coveted Nobel Prize, it was like biting more than one could swallow at a gulp.

I'd hinged my argument on the fact that the award would soon run out of eligible candidates since it was limited to the continent.

I'd then said if it was a worldwide thing, their fears could be justified and Ibrahim would soon realise that he would need more money to finance it than he had ever envisaged.

I told the forum then that the founder had done well and that by limiting it to only those who had only left power for not more than three years and were democratically elected, the prize had narrowed the race and that a year would come when no winner would be announced.

That time came this year and I was not surprised. In fact, if for the next three years to come it is not awarded I would not be surprised. Let's face it: Africa, unfortunately, is bereft of statesmen of the tribe the prize is looking for.

It is peopled by scoundrels and vagabonds in power (apologies to Fela) who parade themselves as leaders. They are power-hungry maniacs who are revolutionaries outside the corridors of power. Once they find themselves in its parlour they become tyrants and sit tight dictators, ala Robert Mugabe, Yoweri Museveni, Muammar Ghaddafi and so on.

Apart from Joaquim Chissano, the former president of Mozambique who won the inaugural prize, and former leader of Botswana Festus Mogae, who among the former leaders, this word is used advisedly, on the continent fits the bill?

I am of the strong view that the decision of the Foundation not to announce a winner this year, to my mind, is much more valuable and honourable than for it to have announced a controversial winner whose choice would devalue the essence of the award.

The continent has long become a playground and toy in the hands of buffoon who have made it a laughing stock in the international arena.

Where do you put people like Omar al-Bashir of Sudan who has continued to be a sore in the delicate thumb of the continent? How about Mamadou Tandja of Niger who has shunned all useful entreaties that he should desist from going ahead with a sham parliamentary election which would only massage his ego and give him a third term?

Is it not the same thing that is going on in Guinea where the laughable leadership of the Economic Community of West African States decided to send a man who a few years back killed his bosom friend in exchange for office? It is the same man with a bloody hand that they sent to the butcher in Conakry who sent troops to kill protesting and armless citizens. What sort of leaders are these?

The prize not being awarded this year is not a slight on any one but a very safe way to keep its integrity intact.