UN General Assembly: Biden's bitter truth to sit-tight leaders.

Going by Biden, it is time for those whom watchers of global politics have described as sit-tight and undemocratic leaders, to put their nations first, preserve democracy and hand over leadership to a new generation to take their nations forward. 

The US president made the clarion call, considered by many analysts as bitter truth to sit-tight leaders, while addressing the 79^th United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, on September 24, 2014. 

Biden’s message has been qualified by keen political observers as a subtle attack on leaders voted to serve, but who have overnight turned themselves into everlasting ‘monarchs’. 

Majority, if not all of such sit-tight leaders, are unfortunately in Africa.

Some international political observers have described the speech as timely, as it is coming within the context of some sit-tight leaders in Africa in particular, already scheming to extend their decades stay at the helm of their nations. 

Many say the message from Biden is a call to reason for sit-tight leaders to embrace the wise saying that: “When a frog in front falls in a pit, others behind take caution”.

The message is also being described as a stitch in time that saves nine, particularly for sit-tight leaders in Francophone Africa, amidst the rising contagious effect of the hurricane of military takeovers. 

It should be recalled that since 2020, coups to flush out sit-tight leaders in Africa have seen quick successions.

Eight coups to push out aging and sit-tight leaders, it should be noted, have for instance, occurred within three years in several countries across Francophone Africa; following those in Mali, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Gabon.

It is a situation which analysts say has further put sit-tight leaders with failed political systems and oligarchies that serve a select few and leave the masses without any future and hope across Africa and beyond, in dire situations. 

The situation, including an increasingly youthful and urbanised Africa, where expectations of change are growing, also sends grim message to those who are planning to take fresh mandates against the wish of their people. 

Such has been worsened in some countries where leaders have tinkered with the constitution to undemocratically hang on to power. 

Biden’s truth to sit-tight leaders 

In his message, Biden reminded leaders quashing the wish of their citizens for them to quit power, and never to forget that “some things are more important than staying in power”. 

He reminded presidents that they are at the helm of their states to serve their citizens and not the other way round. 

“This summer, I faced a decision whether to seek a second term as president.  It was a difficult decision. Being president has been the honour of my life. There is so much more I want to get done. But as much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided, after 50 years of public service, it’s time for a new generation of leadership to take my nation forward,” Biden told other global leaders.  

As if speaking directly to those trying to eternalise their stay in power, Biden reminded world leaders that “it’s your people that matter the most”. 

“Never forget, we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.  Because the future will be won by those who unleash the full potential of their people to breathe free, to think freely, to innovate, to educate, to live and love openly without fear,” Biden stated. 

He was categorical that “that’s the soul of democracy,” which “does not belong to any one country”. 

“I’ve seen it all around the world in the brave men and women who ended apartheid, brought down the Berlin Wall, fight today for freedom and justice and dignity.  We saw it-that universal yearning for rights and freedom in Venezuela, where millions cast their vote for change. It hasn’t been recognised, but it can’t be denied. The world knows the truth,” he said. 

He went on to add that: “We saw it in Uganda LBGT [LGBT] activists demanding safety and recognition of their common humanity. We see it in citizens across the world peacefully choosing their future-from Ghana to India to South Korea, nations representing one quarter of humanity who will hold elections this year alone”. 

Hails power of the people 

Biden said the remarkable power of “We the People”, makes him “more optimistic about the future,” than he has ever been since he was first elected to the United States Senate in 1972.  

“Every age faces its challenges. I saw it as a young man. I see it today,” Biden said.

He also used the opportunity to drum the need for world leaders to federate forces to tackle global challenges. 

“…we are stronger than we think. We’re stronger together than alone. And what the people call ‘impossible’ is just an ‘illusion’,” he told his peers while borrowing from the words of the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, that: “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3241 of Thursday September 26, 2024