For the poor security and other economic hardship confronting the continent, especially, the West African sub-region, some presidents have been asked to step down.
The presidents involved include Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who is also President of the Republic of Ghana, Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Others are Alassane Dramane Ouattara, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma, Muhammadu Buhari, who are presidents of Ivory Coast, Togo and Nigeria respectively.
Blessed Godsbrain Smart, host of the Smart Show on Smart TV indicated Monday, June 14, 2021.
His comments follow recent shooting of policemen amidst some uprising in some of these countries, coupled with unemployment and economic turmoil.
Mr. Smart noted the rate at which the police— who are supposed to provide security for the citizenry – are being attacked and killed in these countries is mind boggling and requires urgent attention.
He emphasised that, even though he wouldn’t encourage anyone to stage a coup – as in the case of Mali – but he will ask “these old men should vacate their seats and we will calculate the remaining years in their terms and pay them.”
“Nana Addo – he’s is the current chair of ECOWAS, Buhari, Outarrah, Eyadéma, you all should calculate the remaining years and go, we’ll pay you. A Nigerian police has been shot, In Ivory Coast, 6 policemen have been shot, Togo 4 and Ghana, a policeman who was accompanying a bullion van was shot and this is not the first time this has happened in Ghana,” he said.
He explained that the recent development in these countries spell the fragility in their security compared to other jurisdictions outside the continent.
“In the advance world, before a police officer would be shot, then there might have been a serious gun battle and even there, a helicopter will lift the bodies with an awaiting ambulance” but because “our leaders are heartless and careless”, police officers are being killed anyhow.
“Look at what is happening in Nigeria and Mali and the ECOWAS couldn’t get anything sensible to say than to ask them (Military) to hand over power peacefully.”
Captain Smart averred despite the lack of “good schools, good roads, hospitals and many other amenities in Mali, their president (former) could spend $30 million on a single trip.”
He added that having power outages in the capital cities in the 21st Century is a disgrace to the leaders who don’t prioritise the wellbeing of the very people they’re supposed to serve.
“How can we put power off in the capital cities of all African countries in the 21st century? When you go to the hospitals outside (Europe, America), do you see power fluctuations there?”
He advised that people refrain from advising the youth because they are fed up and whatever is happening in Nigeria would be replicated soon in the other countries but in a harmonious trajectory, especially for Ghana.
“Nobody should try to advise us anymore because we are sick and tired. You guys think it’s funny. What happened in Nigeria three days ago will get to Mali –they have even started already, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo and then Ghana. You watch, I’ve told you that one day, before you realise, then we are on the streets,” he assured.