THE WIND OF CHANGE!

                                       Wind of Change.

“A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new; when an age ends; and when the soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance.”...Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India.  

Change is the only thing that is constant. The wind of change is sweeping across the Middle East region.  First it was Tunisia the next port of call was Egypt and who knows where the “Sword of Damocles” will fall next? Bahrain, Yemen and Syria are both sharing their own cake of revolution.  The ousted Tunisian leader Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and assumed the Presidency in November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état, from the then President Habib Bourguiba, who was declared incompetent.  Ben Ali was in power for 24 years with high rate of unemployment ravaging Tunisians and cost of living become so high which the government failed to fix.

It all started with Muhammad Al Bouazizi a 26- year old Tunisian who could not find a job after his education. He decided to start small business as a street vendor; selling vegetable in order to make ends meet. On December 17, 2010 the authority confiscated his produce and allegedly slapped his face. This sounds so insulting and humiliating; as a result of this Al Bouazizi drenched himself in gasoline and set himself on fire outside the governor’s office.

After his suicide attempt; the unrest that led to the great revolution started. Unfortunately Al Bouazizi did not survive to witness the change he started.  Both in Tunisia and the whole of the Middle East Al Bouazizi will be regarded as a Martyr.

It has been a culture in the Middle East and Africa for leaders to perpetuate themselves in power.  Going back to history most leaders that came into power first; pretended to be the scavengers of peace but at long run they turned into monsters by inflicting pains on their citizens. These leaders includes the likes of Idi Amin of Uganda (late), Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo (late) Col Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, Mobutu Sese Seku of Democratic Republic of Congo (late), Emperor Jean B’edel Bokassa of Central African  Republic (late), General Sani Abacha of Nigeria (late), President Mubarak of Egypt, the list is endless. These leaders have failed their citizens by not implementing a structural frame work that will create employments and minimize suffering.  Instead; they were busy looting and transferring their countries wealth into some foreign banks that kept these countries perpetual underdeveloped.

President Hosni Mubarak was in power for three decades following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. He was a pro West and a great ally to United States. Mubarak maintained bilateral relationship with state of Israel. Since his regime he suppressed all his political opponents among them, the Muslim Brotherhood which United States regards as terrorist group. As the regime of President Hosni Mubarak has finally come to an end; it will also be a time reminder to all the iron fists leaders that have promoted the authoritarian regime in Africa and which Nigeria is inclusive; should reflect and amend their ways. Thus should be informed that; era of using military might to silence popular opinions for people’s desire for democracy is over. They should prepare for a new era of warfare; that requires no arms and ammunition but mightier than any weaponry. The cyber warfare, the power of internet has change people’s ways of thinking. It has made our world a global

Village; it made information dissemination so easy. It has reinvigorated people’s idea especially the youths to know what’s happening around their world.

 The revolution both in Tunisia and in Egypt wouldn’t have been possible; kudos to the power of internet and the social networks of facebook, twitter etc.  This played a vital role in mobilizing people to stand up for their right.

The ongoing war in Libya between the pro democracy groups and Gaddafi’s forces that refused to relinquish power after four decades in seat of power; it is certain that sometimes resistance may last quite a while but at the end; the will of the people will surely prevail.  The leaders of Bahrain, Yemen and Syria are fighting so hard to sustain their authoritarian regimes but they should be reminded that time is no longer on their side any more the people have spoken ,the earlier they vacate the seats; the lesser the fatalities it becomes though the damage has been done. Sooner they will all head to the World Court at Hague for charges of crime against humanity.

As the wind of change blows across the Middle East and North Africa, African leaders should be once again be reminded that time to change and embrace a true and sustainable democracy, is now through free and fair elections which usher in good governance that will give hope and future to the people.  The time to act is now. A stitch in time they say saves nine.  

By; Lucas  Anuforo.