Nigerians: Gaddafi’s fall, a lesson for African leaders

Nigerians: Gaddafi’s fall, a lesson for African leaders

Nigerians from all walks of life have tasked African leaders to learn from the dramatic and brutal end of Muammar Gadaffi’s 42-year rule and provide the transformational leadership needed by the continent.

Reactions from Nigerians

Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) congratulated Libyans for successfully bringing an end to Muammar Gadaffi’s 42-year rule.

A statement by the spokesman of the group, Kunle Famoriyo, said, “without doubt, Gadaffi’s fall as Libya’s leader is a positive step towards peace and freedom in Libya in particular and Africa in general.”

Also, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa said: “His death is expected. It validates the fact that power is transient. Whatever has a beginning has an end. This will be a signal to Syria’s President Bashar Assad seeing that Gadaffi died dishonourably, it will make him think otherwise.”

The Edo State government also promised to assist Nigerians who just returned from Libya to acquire entrepreneurial skills for self-employment in the agricultural sector of the state.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Simon Imuekemhe, gave this indication when on behalf of the state government, he played host to the United Returnees Foundation (URF), returnees from Libya of Edo State extraction in Government House.

Imuekemhe expressed sadness over the loss of lives of some Nigerian citizens who had travelled in search of greener pasture in foreign countries.

He commended the president of the Foundation, Solomon Okoduwa, on their insistence on pursuing their rehabilitation legitimately and assured them of government’s support and assistance.

Lesson for African leaders

The Afenifere Renewal Group cautioned that Gadaffi’s “disgraceful fall surely calls for sober reflections on the part of dictators, majority of those who still litter the African landscape, who never contemplate leaving the stage when quitting has honour.”

It added that “It is a warning to those who delight in wilfully turning good governance into an anathema and a lesson to all despotic rulers that no one is bigger than his country and that good governance transcends mere provision of food and shelter. Rather, it is about equity and equality. It is about participation and accountability.

Above all, it is clear signal to the fact that when people are driven away from the streets where democracy is free, they move into the cellars where revolutions are born.”
The group finally hoped that“our leaders would learn” from the Libyan event.

NP/ Adekusibe/Ekata