Africa has been hailed as a continent of greatness and has been the home and origin of several great leaders. Take note that Governor Seyi Makinde is not yet an African leader (President) but with his roadmap of accelerated growth for development, it is evident that he is on the threshold of being considered as a living legend and a history maker. You can have look at a culled list from Africa Ranking, that takes a look at 10 of the greatest African leaders which perhaps after the first 4 years in office he would have ranked as one of them.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 greatest African leaders of all time.
10) Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is the 24th and current President of Liberia. She is Africa’s first elected female head of state. She won the 2005 presidential election and assumed the office on 18 January 2006. Many people have praised her for bringing stability back to Liberia after years of civil war. She was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. Under her able leadership, people of Liberia can expect a glorious future for their country.
9) Samora Machel
Samora Machel was the first President of Mozambique. He served the country as its president from the time it gained its independence in 1975 till he died in 1986. He was a military commander and a revolutionary socialist. He was a thoughtful leader and was respected by the people of Mozambique. His actions and ideology are helping many people of Mozambique even today. He died mysteriously in a plane crash.
8) Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta was the first President of Kenya. Kenya gained independence in 1963. Jomo Kenyatta served as the leader of Kenya from the time it became independent till his death in 1978. He was the Prime Minister between 1963 and 1964, and President between 1964 and 1978. He brought stability and economic growth to Kenya. He pursued a pro-Western, anti-communist economic philosophy and foreign policy. He also oversaw his country’s admission to the UN.
7) Thomas Sankara
Thomas Isidore Noel Sankara served as the President of Burkina Faso between 1983 and 1987. He seized power in 1983 at the age of 33 in an endeavor to eliminate corruption and the dominance of the former French colonial power. Many people call him “African Che Guevara.” He was a military captain, pan-African theorist, Marxist revolutionary and feminist. He was an icon for many young Africans in the 1980. Even today he is a hero for many people in Burkina Faso. They praise his integrity and selflessness. Sankara was assassinated by an armed group on October 15, 1987.
6) Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Emery Lumumba founded the mainstream Mouvement national congolais (MNC) party. He played a major role in campaigning for independence from Belgium. He was the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Congo. This Congolese independence leader called for national unity and overall African independence. After the nation fell under the control of military leader Joseph Mobutu, this great leader was arrested and taken to Katanga, where he was killed on 17 January 1961. Unfortunately United Nations did not intervene to save him.
5) Julius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere is one of Africa’s most respected figures. He was the first President of Tanzania and held the office from 29 October 1964 to 5 November 1985. He voluntarily stepped down in 1985. He was premier when Tanganyika was granted internal self-government, and was made president on independence in 1961. In 1964 he successfully negotiated the union of Zanzibar and Tanganyika, resulting in today’s Tanzania. This great leader guarded himself against corruption. He was respected by many world leaders of his time.
4) Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie was a member of the Solomonic Dynasty. He served Ethiopia as its regent from 1916 to 1930 and as its emperor from 1930 to 1974. He fended off an invasion by Italy. In 1936, at the League of Nations, he condemned the use of chemical weapons by Italy against his people during the Second Italo-Ethiopean War. He played a significant role in starting the Organization of African Unity. His views resulted in Ethiopia becoming a charter member of the UN.
3) Alpha Oumar Konare
Alpha Oumar Konare served as the President of Mali for two terms between 1992 and 2002. During his tenure as president, he boosted the country’s economy and fostered democracy. He was the chairperson of African Union between 2003 and 2008. He relentlessly worked for peace and integration in the West African region. He served as the president of ECOWAS in 1999 and UEMOA in 2000.
2) Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1951 to 1966. He was the first Prime Minister of Ghana. He was one of the founding members of the Organization of African Unity, which later became African Union. He was an outspoken advocate of Pan-Africanism.
1) Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela is best known for his involvement in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, this leader of international repute directed a campaign of peaceful, nonviolent defiance against South African government and its racist policies. Later he served as the President of South Africa from 10 May 1994 to 14 June 1999. Today he is regarded as a symbol of global peace and he is considered the best leader in the history of Africa. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He passed on in 2013.
Back to Nigeria, we have had series of leader with only few in the good books of the citizens. June 12 was recently celebrated with people touting Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola as the best President Nigeria never had. In retrospect to political landmark of Oyo State politics, we have had load of governors with good, bad and ugly precedents while posterity would judge. As a constructive writer, I would not want to adjudge GSM as the best but only time will tell. Let us briefly consider some of his actions based on: serving with fear of God, blocking of holes of looting, contracts being awarded at modest cost, patronising local contractors and taking state to self sustainable status.
The unimaginable actions of GSM based on public assets declaration, assenting to financial improprieties (Anti-graft Law) meaning that it is business unusual from the God fearing chief executive officer of the pacesetter state. Besides, “it is an attempt to block the holes of looting”
On Security, Governor Seyi Makinde, (GSM) has solidified the security apparatus in the state having procured ultramodern patrol vehicles to the Nigerian Police in the state and rebranded the existing Operation Burst inherited from the previous administration with the state of art facilities. Aside that, GSM led-government launched a toll-free call service of 615 for citizens to report security issues/challenges in case of any. It is important to note the Amotekun Security Architecture in collaboration with other southwest governors in a bid to curb societal upheavals.
The re-awarding of Iseyin-Moniya road as we all know was due to the bloated contractual agreement between the previous government and the contractor. This is to ensure quality service delivery, modest contract cost and ploughing back to the treasury of the state as local contractor is managing the project "KOPEK".
Boosting agriculture and food security in the state through partnership with Farmcrowdy, a leading Agritech company in Nigeria. Farm settlements to boost agriculture have flagged off (Akufo and Eruwa) and initiated to make the state the food basket of the nation with endowed arable land and human resources. This is an attempt to make the state self-sufficent, self-reliant and self a sustainable without over depending on the monthly federal allocation.Similarly, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, OYHA, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin who lauded the cordial relationship that exists between the legislature and the executive, maintained that the assembly would not be derailed in its role to ensure that the electorates enjoy good governance.
On his plan for the remaining three years, Oyo State helmsman, Governor Makinde said his government has identified critical areas to develop the state, promising that his vision in the next three years is to reverse the negative socio-economic problems facing Oyo state.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, long live the pacesetter state under the God fearing and pro-masses government of GSM and his techno-political crew.
Olawale Aremu writes from Ibadan
olawaleareoou@gmail.com
08037444645
