If leadership was judged by wealth, educational degrees and/or political experience, then Africa would have been one of the most blessed continents in the world in terms of leadership – as it is in mineral resources.
Sadly, unimaginable wealth, multiple educational degrees (albeit honorary) and many years on the corridors of power do not pass as qualities of a good leader.
This perhaps is the greatest undoing to Africans because when choosing leaders, Africans often consider the aforementioned parameters, and sadly so. While I do not argue that education and political experience is very important in leadership; it is our understanding of education and experience – as Africans, which should be questioned and come under very strict scrutiny because it appears we are getting it all wrong.
Although they possess wealth, educational degrees and political experience, many African leaders are myopic to what leadership truly is and what it entails. This is why they are easily used by erstwhile colonial masters as puppets to achieve the selfish aims of neo-colonialism.
Also, the rate at which African leaders are blinded by greed and readily soil their hands in corruption despite their wealth, education and experience is surprising. This raises suspicion that perhaps there is some truth to the ideology of Pan-African Demagogy as defined by some Pan-African scholars.
According to them, the term Pan-African Demagogy is a conspiracy that involves a strategy being implemented by the colonial masters to brainwash emerging African leaders into neo-colonial bourgeoisie who do their buddings and stand against Pan-African ideologies.
To achieve this, they offer education, wealth and political support. This in turn not only makes the African leaders indebted to the colonial masters but also offers complete disorientation as to what Africa truly needs, especially in the area of freedom and development.
These leaders tell mountains of lies to the African peoples and to the world about African economic development, social integration, and political unity. And by doing so, they are helping to hide the true facts of modern day exploitation, slavery, and neo-colonialism.
It is the belief of African scholars who favor Pan-African Demagogy that the present crop of African leaders have in one way or the other fallen prey to the traps of these colonial masters and thus have been brainwashed. Thus, the analogy of Africa is one where the blind leads the one-eyed, while the man with perfect sight tags along like a lap dog.
It is surprising how many African leaders despite their promises to the masses still go about making policies and take actions that are completely against the progress of the people. Do they possess the hearts of the devil or is there something else we do not know?
While we cannot deny that there is a sense in the concept of Pan-African Demagogy and there is a huge possibility that it is in full effect, the bulk of the blame should go to the African leaders themselves because it is their greed and selfishness that is being exploited. No one can easily turn you against your kindred and people except you have that evil seed in you initially.
If the concept of Pan-African Demagogy is true, then our leaders have a share of the blame because it is the evil seed which is deeply planted in their hearts that is been watered by the colonial masters to achieve neo-colonialism.
What are your thoughts?
Header Image Credit: SIKIKE