The common phenomenon around Africa that leaders are clinging on to power might not be the ultimate case in Cote d`Ivoire. It’s a hyperbole. Why do I say that?

First, the Ugandan case five years ago. The winning president Museveni against an opposition strong candidate Kissa Besigie was regarded as a mockery of democracy. That the FDC was fully convinced of seizing power from NRM of Museveni, it had no trust in the structures in place ranging from the courts, to forces to the referee the one Suleiman Jiggundu and his group in the electoral commission. Reason, the margin and the zest at which the opposition extremists took up in the run up especially with emotions for their candidate’s tribulations was small and tempting for challenge. The question herein is what margin does a sitting president deserve to win fairly and squarely fellow Africans?

Two, the Kenyan scenario. Way back, Kanu and Ford Asili’s margin was small leading to a common perception that Stanley Kennedy Matiba had been rigged out by Moi and Kanu. This raised eyebrows but little did the opposition appreciate the fact that they lost to Moi because they were divided instead they cleverly toiled and turned around that he (Moi) used divide and rule tactics. I remain pensive on this, does is amount to obstruction in a competition when one devises his working tactics where the rules are silent on my dear Africans? The PNU and ODM black times. Who can explicitly justify the ODM won and PNU lost and is ready to hold his emotions, obsessions awaiting ballots from all corners of the country to be counted? Suppose ODM took over, who in the unlikely scenario would see PNU’s victory stolen and the corridors of justice unfair and the ECK partial? Who remembers the unlikely ember from the opposition then expressing confidence in Kivuitu’s term when fear engulfed that President Kibaki was unlikely to renew his tenure at the ECK?

Three, Zimbabwe. The two ardent rivals almost brought the nation to a halt. If critics are justified they should look deeply into interests. Following closely the outcome of first round votes, no candidate won squarely, however the opposition who had a higher votes wanted to throw out the rules of the game when the rather perceived ‘bad candidate’ Mugabe was himself willing to stick to the rules. If it is machinery why didn’t he throw the rules out and anoint himself the victor, why didn’t the opposition unite and win as a combined force instead of refusing to re-run? Africans we are cheated.

The rest of scenarios Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa are not exhaustive case studies here for their rules of the game and history defines them elsewhere.

So for Ghabbo I still have questions that we are politicking the process and reservations. That as much as democracy says that many have their way they it does confirm that they might not be right. So African leaders against Ghabbo may have their way but are not ultimately right. Laurent Gbagbo has faith in the process and has reason to be heard. If there were tensions in some parts making the courts revoke votes from the areas, he is right in his take. That foreigners voted and that the opponent in not Ivorian, calls for reason for alarm. We should not be throwing out rules and constitutional provisions; we should defend, protect and not compromise them. Africa! This is bad precedence. The Alassane Quattara should try corridors of justice, be heard and verdict done. Who says the external spectators especially EU are right, who defuse them that they had no vested interests?

In Kenya the constitutional victory pulled in American Ambassador and was even supported and praised for his open campaigns, the ones crying wolf now are the ones who cherished him for the noble job.

Our criticism of Gbagbo is unfair, unwarranted, and unfortunate and by extension a mockery of laid down governance structures in this the constitution of land. Give Ivory people change to settle Africa and Foreigners.

Masafu Kiberenge Simiyu Christopher

P.O. Box 69, – 50202

Chwele – Kenya

+254 735 873022 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254 735 873022 end_of_the_skype_highlighting / 0725 736 233 cell