Sudan: Living at the Mercy of Senseless Leaders
22 May 2023 By Abiodun Kareem Giwa
People fleeing Sudan at the beginning of conflict
Sudan has been losing precious lives daily, arising from elusive peace. A typical case of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, and the center cannot hold. And warring leaders cannot see the evil they have brought to the country. Efforts for a ceasefire have been unsuccessful. No one is certain the ceasefire brokered in Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah to begin Monday will be effective as warring fighters lord it over one another for the control of a major airport.
Observers view the two Sudan leaders' stalemate emerging from their misconception of leadership as a position of superiority and not an opportunity to serve. It is a significant problem facing humanity. People want to lead, unaware of what it entails. As a result, they become like a dry fish, unbendable and master of all, forgetting they are elected to serve and not to browbeat all to submission.
They have changed the meaning of Democracy to Autocracy from Power from the people to the people and energy from the people to the rulers. Having the majority in parliament allows them to force their will like military officers in a battle against enemies' lines. Programs in favor of party caucus replace the will of the people. The welfare of the populace becomes secondary. The pain is that the same ruling party calling the bluff of the people has the Power of the purse and incumbency to win reelection.
It is also happening in the United States that the world looked up to as a beacon of Democracy. Yet, a lackluster leader has announced a reelection bid, and people are discussing the Power of the purse. The country's border is loose against Americans' wishes. The border czar appointed by the president never one day visited the place, and the president reluctantly went there once. And the czar remains in office! Where is accountability? It has also happened in Nigeria, where an election victory went to a candidate of the ruling party despite the utter failure of the incumbent. Although many Nigerians are angry over the development and carelessness, the result may be a blessing in disguise, and the election winner may have one without the help of the incumbent. And so-called losers in the election behave like they are Saints, and given a chance, they will do the will of the people and not act like other power welders before them.
Their inordinate ambition rules. The country is going into a dilemma that does not bother them. It is the Sudan and Sudanese fate. Dangalo and Burhan care only about ambition and nothing about Sudan and the Sudanese people. They may not have any relevant education in leadership other than military training. Yet, they want to lead Sudan to show superiority, for people to see they call the shots, not whether the Sudanese have three square meals daily and are comfortable. Leaders take care of themselves and their cronies and forget the people. It is the loss of lives daily than three square meals.
People say Dangalo and Burhan cannot be helpful as a leader in Sudan. Sudanese people can be allowed to choose their leader in an election. They should not live at the mercy of either of them. The case is in Sudan today; it could be in another country tomorrow. The time has come for a debate on how to make leaders and their parties embrace the orientation of doing the will of the people than making the center unable to hold when things fall apart and become a scapegoat for a problem they have not created.
It is evidence of concentrated Power. According to Craig E. Johnson, it is easier for impulsive, selfish people to pursue their goals without considering the needs of others and justifying their actions by claiming that their rights and interests take priority over the obligation to others.
Observers view the two Sudan leaders' stalemate emerging from their misconception of leadership as a position of superiority and not an opportunity to serve. It is a significant problem facing humanity. People want to lead, unaware of what it entails. As a result, they become like a dry fish, unbendable and master of all, forgetting they are elected to serve and not to browbeat all to submission.
They have changed the meaning of Democracy to Autocracy from Power from the people to the people and energy from the people to the rulers. Having the majority in parliament allows them to force their will like military officers in a battle against enemies' lines. Programs in favor of party caucus replace the will of the people. The welfare of the populace becomes secondary. The pain is that the same ruling party calling the bluff of the people has the Power of the purse and incumbency to win reelection.
It is also happening in the United States that the world looked up to as a beacon of Democracy. Yet, a lackluster leader has announced a reelection bid, and people are discussing the Power of the purse. The country's border is loose against Americans' wishes. The border czar appointed by the president never one day visited the place, and the president reluctantly went there once. And the czar remains in office! Where is accountability? It has also happened in Nigeria, where an election victory went to a candidate of the ruling party despite the utter failure of the incumbent. Although many Nigerians are angry over the development and carelessness, the result may be a blessing in disguise, and the election winner may have one without the help of the incumbent. And so-called losers in the election behave like they are Saints, and given a chance, they will do the will of the people and not act like other power welders before them.
Their inordinate ambition rules. The country is going into a dilemma that does not bother them. It is the Sudan and Sudanese fate. Dangalo and Burhan care only about ambition and nothing about Sudan and the Sudanese people. They may not have any relevant education in leadership other than military training. Yet, they want to lead Sudan to show superiority, for people to see they call the shots, not whether the Sudanese have three square meals daily and are comfortable. Leaders take care of themselves and their cronies and forget the people. It is the loss of lives daily than three square meals.
People say Dangalo and Burhan cannot be helpful as a leader in Sudan. Sudanese people can be allowed to choose their leader in an election. They should not live at the mercy of either of them. The case is in Sudan today; it could be in another country tomorrow. The time has come for a debate on how to make leaders and their parties embrace the orientation of doing the will of the people than making the center unable to hold when things fall apart and become a scapegoat for a problem they have not created.
It is evidence of concentrated Power. According to Craig E. Johnson, it is easier for impulsive, selfish people to pursue their goals without considering the needs of others and justifying their actions by claiming that their rights and interests take priority over the obligation to others.
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