Nigeria’s former President advises long serving African leader to consider stepping down from power

shakirudeen taiwo

September 11, 2017 3:06 PM

Africa is blessed with a lot of strong men who are more powerful and ironically important than the country they govern.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a Former Nigerian President has advised long-serving African leaders to consider quitting office or the office will leave them.’

Obasanjo noted that most of these leaders held on to power because they have fears of becoming a rare commodity in their respective country.

“Well, really after 12, 15 years, some of them up to 30, some have fears, I think that now they are becoming a rare commodity. And maybe if you don’t leave office, what happens, the office will leave you,”.

The eighty-year-old former Nigerian leader also praised Angola's President, Dos Santos for stepping down from power. He also urged others leaders to consider a similar move.

“Not too long ago, President dos Santos decided to leave office, maybe others will see the wisdom in what he has done.”

At present, 16 of the 54 countries in Africa have their leaders who have reigned for at least 20 years. The duo of Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) and Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria) are battling medical issues that have incapacitated their ability to govern. Yet, they are not considering bowing out of power.

Obasanjo also addressed political issues in Togo. He stated that President Gnassingbe should consider stepping down if there are no new development ideas from the 52 –year old leader.

“I believe whatever he (Faure Gnassingbe) has to do in terms of development, whatever ideas he has, he must have exhausted them by now unless he has something new that we do not know,” Obasanjo said.

shakirudeen taiwo

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