Mixed Reactions Trail Mugabe’s Resignation

Robert Mugabe’s resignation as Zimbabwe’s President has elicited mixed reactions in Nigeria.

Some Nigerians who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria said that the resignation was a pointer to the fact that Zimbabweans needed a change after 37-year-rule of Mugabe.

Others, however, disagreed, saying it should serve as a warning to other sit tight African leaders.

Newsmen report that Mugabe resigned Tuesday following military takeover of government and protests by Zimbabweans for him to resign.

The resignation brought to an end Mugabe’s 37-year grip on power and was received by wild celebrations by Zimbabweans.

Nigerians in Lagos urged sit-tight leaders in Africa to learn their lessons from the political upheaval in Zimbabwe and leave the centre stage when the ovation is still loudest.

The respondents in separate interviews with newsmen on Wednesday applauded the unfolding situation in the southern African country where the oldest leader in the world ruled for unbroken 37 years .

The National Chairman of National Conscience Party, Dr Yinusa Tanko, urged African leaders to do things in the interest of the ordinary people.

“Nothing lasts forever, he should have left when the ovation was loudest. All African leaders who sit tight should take a lesson from this and act in the interest of the people.

“This was a person that liberated his people from the British, now the people are liberating themselves from him with wild jubilation. It is sad,’’ Tanko said.

Prof. Lai Olurode, former National Commissioner of the Independent National Commissioner (INEC), advised Africa’s remaining sit-tight rulers that to bear in mind at all times that no individual could do all within a generation for his country and people.

“This is a warning to Africa’s remaining sit-tight rulers that no individual can do all within a generation for his country and people. Nation building is an unending project. Contribute your quota and leave the rest,’’ Olurode said.

He described Mugabe as “a foremost freedom fighter, a nationalist and an unrepentant critique of apartheid and white domination who understood perfectly the social forces that had kept Africa down for too long”.

He, however, said that the grand old leader failed to understand an art and a science of nation-building simultaneously adding that Mugabe refused to call it quits, assuming he could address all the developmental challenges faced by his people.

Olurode noted that the ex-President of Zimbabwe was a victim of the process he so much lambasted by becoming power drunk,saying the former leader was desperate at perpetuating himself and wife in power.

He said Mugabe became an impediment to the further progress of Zimbabwe and drowned himself in the process after the institutions of state were weakened by his deliberate actions .

Prof. Oluremi Soniya, former Presidential candidate of KOWA Party, however, congratulated the military for pursuing the supreme interest of the country to its logical end.

Sonaiya said: “I am ecstatic concerning the situation in Zimbabwe. One should appreciate the role that the military played; they were not interested in getting into power.

“The interest of the nation was paramount and I think that was very good example.

“It is also a clear demonstration of their good will for their country, It was not like they wanted to get into power but they felt that what was happening was not good for their country.

“I am not sure whether we (Nigeria) has had that kind of situation before where a military will get a sitting head of state out and not want to come in.

“So, I congratulate the military for the honourable role they played and I just hope that they will be able to settle down to a very good governance system,’’ she said.

Sonaiya urged all African leaders to remember always that they cannot be despots and be there for long and think their end will be good.

To Prof. Timothy Ogundu, of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island Amassoma, the resignation gave Zimbabweans the chance to forge a new path, free from oppression.

“The resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new direction free of the oppression that characterised his rule.

“In recent days, we have seen the desire of the Zimbabwean people for free and fair elections and the opportunity to rebuild the country’s economy under a legitimate way and government, ” he said

In Maiduguri, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, a Civil Society Activist, described the resignation of Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, as a victory of democracy.

Abdullahi told newsmen that the decision by Mugabe to relinquished power after 37 years in office was born out of patriotism and National spirit.

“It is sad that Mugabe, regarded as a nationalist was forced out of office unceremoniously in response to strong opposition by the people.

“Mugabe put up effective struggle for the attainment of self rule of Zimbabwe and strive to make the country great,” he said.

Abdullahi added that Mugabe had also demonstrated high sense of political acumen to solve the turmoil in the country through democratic process.

He commended Zimbabweans for their patience and tolerance during the crisis as well as support for civil and military authorities in the country.

Also, Mr Ba’Abba Haruon, a Political Analyst, call on the Zimbabwean political leaders to form an all inclusive government to fast track rebuilding of the country.

He noted that such measures were necessary for national cohesion and entrenchment of democratic governance .
According to Mr Macaulay Wunohashi, Special Assistant to Gov. Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa on Media Affairs,
“Mugabe was a true nationalist who struggled for his country’s independence.

“He was disgraced out of power because he had overstayed his usefulness,’’ he said.

Mr Sati Kubenubu, lecturer with the Department of Political Science, Gombe State University, expressed fears ove the role the the military played in the change.

“In Africa we have tendency of replicating this, once something happen in one place you will discover that it has a bush fire effect or another set of people will try to do the same format.

“The question now is let us hoped that this trend of the Military forcing president out will not form precedence for other military in other countries to begin to push out their leaders”, he said.

Kubenubu, advised African leaders to take it as an example after serving their time to leave the place to others to take over and contribute their own part.

He said that Mugabe has now became a person that would be remembers as a president that was force to resign by the Military.

“If he has done what he was expected to do people would continue to praise him, but now people will remember him as the president that was forced to resign by the military, so has laid a history that has destroyed all the good things that he has done”, he said