By Ezekiel Nabieu
You guessed who. He did not rule. He reigned for 27 turbulent years. When you come to think of it, it's all part of man's nature carried to the extreme. To a certain extent almost all homo sapiens are eager for what I would refer to as the three Ps namely, Power Prestige and Pleasure. But against the backdrop of Compaore's death let us focus on the vagaries of power for now.
“Man proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, most ignorant of what he's most assured. His glossy essence, like an angry ape plays such fantastic tricks before high heavens, As make the angels weep” (Shakespeare).
I am almost tempted to stop here for your reflection but let us move on. In this matter of the thirst of power, I am pointing out that not all power comes from God. This is basically because Satan according to the bible is Prince of this world and therefore has extensive power, although God is omnipotent. As a result, we ought to get rid of the notion that all political leaders are sanctioned by God. When you think of the abrasive and wicked behaviour of the likes of Blaise Compaore, including questionable deaths, you may change your opinion about the acquiescence of God in all such acts. If so, he will not be a loving God.
This is in spite of the biblical statement that "there is no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resist what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement." (Roman 13, 1-2).
Let me explain that the phraseology stresses both the office holder and the office. Nothing is said here about the form of government. The passage emphasises government itself and its administrations when these function properly. Can Compaore with his commission of abrasive and heinous crimes be said to have governed properly? I had listed previous dictators like Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin and others and challenged leaders to tell me whether any of these had their powers from God. But no one had volunteered a response after several weeks, meaning that not all powers come from God.
Since independence in 1961, Sierra Leone has had all sorts of leaders, both constitutional and military. Perhaps the rule of Sierra Leone's first Prime Minister is more fondly remembered than his successors by most Sierra Leoneans except for a few citizens who flatter incumbent leaders for selfish ends. Under his watch there was an unprecedented freedom of the press and there was no veneer of state corruption around his personality. But death snatched him too soon, depriving the country of his leadership.
However after a power struggle he was succeeded by his younger brother Sir Albert Margai, an orator who exhibited traits of dictatorship. Contrary to the democratic credentials of Sir Milton, Sir Albert demonstrated signs of tyranny and mooted the one-party idea which saw its consummation by his successor, Dr. Siaka Stevens under whose dictatorial one-party rule the country almost buckled under with the IMF pulling out of our potentially resource-rich country. The rest of that odious era is history.
Dr Ahmed Tejan Kabbah an erstwhile UN bureaucrat came on the scene as president through fortuitous circumstances. He inherited a civil war that unshackled him for a while before he fought back thanks to international goodwill and the mood of the populace at large against military rule. During his interrupted rule, he re-established many of the state structures that had fallen apart owing to bad governance. Amongst other things, he re-established local government, NaCSA, NASSIT and NRA.
During the war he even bent over backwards to offer the post of Vice Presidency to rebel leader Foday Sankoh. That was his kind milk-heartedness that characterised his rule. He virtually prepared the way for APC governance by several concessions like granting the APC a radio station for instance when his SLPP had none. He also distanced himself from the wrangling of the SLPP by saying that he was president of Sierra Leone and not the SLPP. His greatest plaudits is ending the war by negotiation when another leader would have opted to end it on the battlefield. He neither forced the issue of a third -term, nor was he forced to resign.
Enter the inscrutably mesmerizing Ernest Bai Koroma who was plagued by his APC and rescued by Tejan Kabbah from his beleaguered position. His first port of call on assumption of power was Burkinafaso for reasons best known to himself but which can be read between the lines. Is it any surprise that ex-president Tejan Kabbah was not allowed to deliver his handing address? was it on anybody's advice?
"The great question which in all ages has disturbed mankind and brought on them the greatest part of those mischief which have ruined cities, depopulated countries and disordered the peace of the world has not been whether there be power in the world, nor when it came but who should have it." (John Locke)
Blaise did not blaze a trail in Burkinafaso. He found a long trail and went along the ignominious beaten track of odious dictators. That was the "pass ar die' dictator who used juju to charm his people for 27 years. But alas! it failed him when least expected.
© Politico 25/11/14
