₦airaland Forum

From Prison Cell To Presidential Palace

Before last weekend, if you'd have asked about Col Michael Randrianirina on the island of Madagascar, you'd have got a lot of blank looks.

In just three days, however, he has become arguably the most powerful person in country.

Randrianirina's sudden ascent began on Saturday, when as the head of Madagascar's elite CAPSAT army unit, he drove with his troops into the centre of the capital city, joining thousands of protesters who had long been demanding the president's resignation.

After Andry Rajoelina eventually fled the city and MPs voted to impeach him, 51-year-old Randrianirina stood in front of the vacant presidential palace and informed the world's media that CAPSAT was taking over.

The constitutional court then declared that he was the country's new ruler, even though the ousted president still insists that he remains in charge.

Randrianirina carries a rare air of mystery - for the leader of the country's most powerful military unit, there is not much information about him in the public domain.

What we do know is that he was born in Sevohipoty, a village in the southern Androy region.

He later became the governor of Androy, serving between 2016 and 2018 under former President Hery Rajaonarimampianina.

Then, Randrianirina became head of an infantry battalion in the city of Toliara, a position he held until 2022.

He was a vocal critic of Rajoelina, an entrepreneur who took power via a coup in 2009, stepped down in 2013, then returned five years later after winning elections.

Randrianirina was jailed in a maximum-security prison without trial in November 2023, accused of inciting a mutiny and planning a coup.

Student groups, fellow soldiers and politicians were among those who argued Randrianirina had been imprisoned for unfair political reasons, and he was released in February the following year.

Just hours before announcing he was taking over Madagascar on Tuesday, Randrianirina told the BBC he was a mere "servant" of the people. He exuded charm, hospitality, confidence - but not arrogance.

The colonel is also known to be a staunch Christian. Magalasy journalist Rivonala Razafison describes him as "simple but tough", "straightforward" and "patriotic".

Randrianirina certainly has thoughts about his country and how it is still influenced by France, which was Madagascar's colonial master until 1960.

When offered the option to respond to the BBC's questions in French, an official language in Madagascar, Randrianirina countered: "Why can't I speak my language, Malagasy?" adding that he does not like glorifying the colonial tongue.

The CAPSAT leader has told local media that, moving forward, his priority is "social welfare" - a pressing issue in a country where roughly 75% of people live below the poverty line.

He has said the military will rule for up to two years alongside a civilian government before an election is held.

Sources have told Reuters that Randrianirina will be sworn in over the next day or two - a ceremony that will serve as a coda to a whirlwind few days that took him from mystery man to the officer everybody is talking about.

CaseSensitive:
Madagascar is one of the poorest country in the world, just as poverty is consistent in majority of other France's colony in Africa. I wish him success as long as he deliver the will of the people of Madagascar and follow in the footstep of the brave leaders of the Sahel.

mohbadliveson:
Military era is gradually coming back to africa. We must not allow it in Nigeria

Chachalogo:
Just like Joseph in the Bible

Chachalogo:
Just like Joseph in the Bible

anonimi:
‘How Atiku saved Obasanjo from near bankruptcy before he emerged president’‘

A new book has revealed how former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, saved ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from near bankruptcy before he emerged president in 1999.

According to the new book, entitled ‘’Too Good to Die: Third Term and the Myth of the Indispensable Man in Africa,’ Atiku made all his resources available for Obasanjo’s presidential campaign.

The book, written by former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu, and Ayisha Osori, author of ‘’Love Does Not Win Elections,” also revealed how Obasanjo beat late Alex Ekwueme to the presidential ticket of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 1999 election.

Quoting an account from Atiku, the authors said the trio of Ibrahim Babangida, Theophilus Danjuma and Abdulsalami Abubakar wanted PDP to adopt Obasanjo as their presidential candidate “because they considered him the best person for the job.”

“Implicit in their position was their belief that they knew how to manipulate Obasanjo and the fact that Obasanjo did their bidding in 1979. They felt secure that he could be managed again,” the authors wrote.

Atiku was reportedly asked to join a team to Ogun to inform Obasanjo that he was going to run for the highest office in the land.

“When Atiku and Obasanjo discussed the call to serve as president, Obasanjo said he could not be president because he was a nearly bankrupt ex-convict. Atiku, through General (Aliyu) Gusau, paid money into Obasanjo’s account to begin his financial rehabilitation.

“Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar helped out by granting him an unconditional pardon. Atiku put everything he had at his disposal to support Obasanjo’s emergence as the PDP presidential candidate and, when he joined the ticket as the vice-presidential nominee, continued to make his assets available to Obasanjo and the campaign.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/how-atiku-saved-obasanjo-from-near-bankruptcy-before-he-emerged-president/

PepeXKermit:
In the last 60 years, what has democracy achieved in aafrica?

The problem with many of you is that you have been so brain washed by the west to believe that their way of life should be the same way of life you will lead...