₦airaland Forum

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has attributed dominance of long-serving African leaders to institutional weaknesses and a lack of democratic accountability.

His remarks come amid recent developments in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, where aging leaders secured extended terms.

Daily Trust reports that Biya, now 92, and 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara were announced winners in controversial circumstances.


But speaking at the Democracy Union for Africa Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, Saraki said their emergence was more about weak institutions, fragile governance, and a lack of accountability.

His lecture was themed: “Navigating Africa’s Strategic Position in a Multipolar World: Towards Equitable and Mutually Beneficial Partnerships.”

The forum gathered leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore Africa’s strategic position in a changing global order and chart pathways to economic independence and inclusive growth.

According to him, “These are not merely political anomalies, they are symptoms of institutional fragility”.

“This erosion of institutional checks and balances has had profound consequences.


“It is what allows, for instance, the re-election of Paul Biya in Cameroon at the age of 92, and the perpetuation of similar political dynasties in Equatorial Guinea and other nations, where power remains concentrated in the hands of a few rather than distributed through accountable systems.

“These are not merely political anomalies, they are symptoms of institutional fragility”.

He further highlighted how concentrated power and weak checks and balances allow some leaders to cling to office for decades, often at the expense of national progress.

Speaking on Africa’s renaissance, the former Senate President called on African nations to break free from economic and political dependency and fully harness the continent’s potential.


He warned that the continent still relies on extractive economic systems where raw materials leave Africa and return as finished products that Africans cannot control.

Africa’s youthful population, vast natural resources, and internal market of 1.4 billion people are powerful advantages, he said, adding these could fuel unrest and wasted potential instead of prosperity if unmanaged.

Saraki criticized the continent’s dependence on foreign aid and concessional loans, many of which serve donor priorities rather than Africa’s needs.

He said in healthcare for example, malaria programs often lag while HIV/AIDS receives greater attention.

The former Senate President urged African countries to invest in local processing and value-added industries.

“Cocoa, bauxite, shea, and oil, he said, represent billions in lost potential annually because raw commodities are exported while value capture stays abroad.

“Strengthening domestic finance, boosting industrialization, and integrating markets are key”, he stressed.

He called for stronger financial institutions, industrial parks, technical education, and integrated value chains that allow farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to participate in production.


Intra-African trade, he noted, must rise from 14-15 percent to over 50 percent adding that the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a chance to unify markets, build regional value chains, and increase global bargaining power.

Saraki who keynoted the event, said Human capital is Africa’s greatest asset and Investment in STEM, digital skills, and entrepreneurship will turn the continent from a consumer of ideas into a producer of innovation.

He added that leadership and governance are critical while ethical, visionary, and accountable leaders, credible electoral systems, and independent judiciaries are essential to unlocking Africa’s potential.

Saraki called for an African renaissance rooted in confidence, capacity, and collective will and urged the next generation to reclaim Africa’s narrative and power.

“Let this be the generation that no longer waits for opportunity but creates it,” he submitted.

Racoon:
Yes! Africa is being plagued by useless sit-tight tyrants disguising as democrats. All due to lack of accountability, responsibility and worst of all, institutional failure.

Imagine the ailing and invalid Paul Biya winning election via effigies and posters? Alhassan Quattara won election on popular mandate but today has become another tyrant of his own.

bennybuhari:
How is Saraki himself different? A family that enslaved Kwarans for donkey years

SpaceX:
I have a feeling that is what tinubu is planning to do... Stay in office forever

alphaconde:
What of russia? or Rwanda

What would you say ?

A people of a country is as good as the person who leads them

3seriez:
Politicians in Nigeria like to give sermon like they are not all birds of the same feather 🪶. Just some a lil better than others.

alphaconde:
What of russia? or Rwanda

What would you say ?

A people of a country is as good as the person who leads them

Gotocourt:
Tinubu for life president

3seriez:
Politicians in Nigeria like to give sermon like they are not all birds of the same feather 🪶. Just some a lil better than others.

nairalanda1:
No, it's because people vote for familiarity instead of change.

Nigeria does.not have a sit tight ruler because we don't have a leader who will unite the ruling elite behind him.

Senegal used to have Senghor, who sat tight till he died. That's when the cracks appeared and Wade took advantage eventually

southsouthking:
I can see the hands of France on this.

Fiscus105:
I pray our own won't end in sit tight , handwriting is on the wall, all institutions that are supposed to be checkmating him, already collapsed.

Judiciary, national assembly, gov forum, even online data warriors,......all fighting for him to become demigod.

Alassane Outtara, Kigame, Gbagbo among others once fighting as good opposition leaders and freedom fighters until they clinched power and become deputy gods.

Ifebazz:
Don't you think it's taking shape as we speak, what with all the defections and single party system that we are currently walking towards?