Mammoth events continue to happen in Africa, by the day. The rate at which these events drop from the sky, so to say, confounds even proponents of jet speed. Reporters, news hounds, publishers and media practitioners generally, keep updating their work. There is never a dull moment. Fortunately, our current edition captured two of these earth-shaking occurrences.
First, we take the one whom some observers dubbed the misfit – the erstwhile president of South Africa – Jacob Zuma. Mr. Zuma had to throw in the towel two days ago. His critics say that the man merely succeeded in bastardising the seat which the likes of iconic Nelson Mandela and the voracious Thabo Mbeki raised to global limelight. He finally quit the political stage last Wednesday. Barely 20 hours later, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected by Parliament to succeed Mr. Zuma. Let’s hope President Ramaphosa will restore the dignity of that office. The next heavy event also occurred in South Africa. The lion of Zimbabwe, the courageous Morgan Tsvangirai, who battled the ousted authoritarian Mugabe to a standstill, has succumbed to cancer. He had been hospitalized in South Africa. Africa will miss that guy.
And while we are talking about opposition politicians, let us say a word or two about the guy in the East African nation of Kenya, Raila Odinga. American and British diplomats have urged him to alter his style. He does not have to be President to leave a great legacy in his beloved country. In Cameroun, President Paul Biya has clocked 35 and is still counting. Imposing curfew on hapless citizens can be part of the game. Too bad!
Turning to the brighter side, enlightened Africans continue to admire the ex-Liberian leader, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as she keeps making history. In a continent characterised by plenty sit-tight rulers, the highly educated and competent lady served her country and quit the stage in line with the constitution. Within a few weeks after leaving the State House in Monrovia, the Governing Board in charge of the greatest award for leadership anywhere in Africa found her fit to take the prize that eluded ex-African leaders for years. We cannot miss out on such a great story. Flip through our Governance column.
It is often said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. This seems to be the situation across the immigration offices in Nigeria. The authorities expect thousands of deportees from Libya, yet there are no structures on ground to receive them. Meanwhile, the country keeps sending aircraft and officials to Tripoli to airlift its citizens home. What a calamity!
On our Personality Profile column, we have a big fish. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, one of Nigeria’s most historic and important cities, is not just anybody. He is many things rolled into one. Browse through that column.
As usual, our regular columns are heavily loaded. Lest we forget, the picture of the bobsled team you are likely to come about in the edition is completely Nigerian. We mean every bit of this. Read the report and see for yourself. Enjoy your browsing.
Pat I. Chukwuelue
Editor-in-Chief
