19th February, 2024.

Your Excellencies,
I greet you all in the quest for a Sustainably Peaceful, Secured, Democratic and Developed continent! 

Before delving deep into my letter, let me first of congratulate the Judiciary of Senegal on its watershed ruling to restore democracy in one of Africa's towers or models of good governance. 

At least all is not lost in Africa - as the decision of the bench to reverse the unconstitutional proclamation of President Marki Sall to extend his term limit is a testament of an independent, impartial and just judicial system especially in a nascence democracy like Senegal. 

The bravery, patriotism and unbiased nature of the Judiciary has indeed reverted plunging this West African country into another "Sudan". 

This act of nationalism over egocentrism corroborated with what has been echoed by President Obama that: "Africa doesn't need strong leaders, but strong institutions". 

Had it been that President Marki Sall was stronger than Senegal's Constitution or Judiciary, such a milestone ruling wouldn't have been reached by the court. 

A food for thought for other countries to emulate. 

Your Excellencies, this open letter would critically look at: Development Agendas or Manifestos while in Opposition, Why Africa is still an underdog despite abundant natural wealth and way forward for a better continent. 

Revered Leaders of Africa, at one point in time you were all in opposition - wailing for a change. 

Your stance during that time was to establish governance reforms, build on state institutions, improve on the economy and foster peace and enduring democracy if elected as presidents. 

Such unwavering promises in the form of manifestos gave confidence and hope to citizens for regime changes across the continent.

And we all saw the wind of change in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone etc. - wherein there were peaceful transitions from incumbents to opposition political parties.

Citizens across these countries envisaged determined, selfless and committed opposition leaders by then who would substitute despairs with hope, abject poverty with poverty alleviation programs, injustice with an independent judicial system, high inflation and unemployment with improved economy and better living conditions if elected into governance.

Alas! The expectations and hopes of these citizens are now entangled firmly with  shackles of poverty, higher inflation, higher unemployment and abysmally counterproductive service delivery on health, agriculture, judiciary and the list go on and on. 

Your Excellencies, Africa, according to studies is one of the richest continents in the world. 

Despite its natural wealth, this region is home to the world’s most impoverished and abused people. 

Your people are not only led poorly, but they incessantly endure abuses like injustice, economic inequalities, gender disparity and sort like. 

Your Excellencies, you are quick to blame the legacy of colonialism, others accuse its neo-colonial dimension, and some others pose culture, climate and bio-geographic factors as the explanation to the “why” of the African problems.

One of the key factors contributing to poverty in Africa is economic instability. High rates of unemployment, income inequality, and economic policies that sometimes fail to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable citizens in your countries.

For example, why should we have 10 - 15 km bridge at a cost of $ 2 billion in Sierra Leone when the country is among the hungriest nations in the world? It's a mismatch of felt needs! 

Mr. Presidents, due to the aforementioned inefficiencies and excesses added with weak governance and fragile democracy in the continent, the barrel is gradually replacing the ballot box; and typical examples are in Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Sudan. 

Coup De'tat - an old-fashioned rule through military regime is gradually resurfacing because, your leadership styles and patterns fail to address systemic corruption, abject poverty, missive unemployment and high cost of living, draconian or restrictive laws and dysfunctional governance systems.

Your Excellencies, have you thought of entrenched leadership and abuse of term limits, electoral rigging, dismal state of press freedom to be precursors of what the continent is faced with? 

I know you're honourable men and women of high calibre and intellect who could give decisive responses to these questions. 

What could be the pathfinder for Africa's liberation? 

First of Africa no longer needs orators to serve as heads of states.

Sugar coated speeches have yielded very negligible impacts. 

The continent direly needs patriotic, sincere, selfless, god-fearing, honest and diligent leaders with an utmost objective and passion to serve the common good. 

Praxis in leadership and governance is a sure bet for Africa's growth and development. 
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Abass Sesay is a Journalist and Development Analyst. 
He is a graduate in ICT and Development Studies (undergrad); and he holds a Master Degree in Corporate Governance and Leadership.