THE capture of Mr Laurent Gbagbo, the erstwhile president of Ivory Coast by the troops loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, after a wanton and xenophobic conflict in a country that used to be regarded as the pearl of Africa, should be a source of relief to Africa and Nigeria in particular which has a strong population of over five million citizens in that country of 21 million people.THE obstinacy and morbid ambition of Gbagbo as epitomised in his mindless lust for power, which led to the avoidable and heavy loss of life and property in Ivory Coast, should be a veritable cause for concern to all men of conscience. In fact, it exposes vividly, the lengths to which some African leaders can go, in their pursuit of political power with the exploitation of armed conflict to achieve their goals.FOUR months after a national election was conducted, during which the Ivorians elected a leader of their choice in the person of Ouattara, peace in that country unfortunately and ironically, took a sudden flight. The elections which were held on October 31 and November 28, 2010 were eagerly and expectedly too, seen as the harbinger of unification for a country that has been partitioned into North and South by a ruthless fratricidal war in 2002/2003. Alas! the latest election if there is anything, only produced unexpectedly a large population of widows and orphans, creating unimaginable anguish for the beleaguered nation and by extension, Africa as a whole.IT is rather unfortunate that the last election, and the political doldrums, coupled with the attendant tempest, claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians including the displacement of over 400,000 people within Ivory Coast, as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Compounding this ugly condition is the story that over 70,000 Ivorians fled to neighbouring Liberia, shortly before Gbagbo was captured, seeking for refuge.REPORTS even showed that Gbagbo in his mad ambition to entrench his illicit regime, armed some drug addicts, street urchins and para-military forces, who wreaked brutal and naked hostility on perceived opponents and foreigners from countries, whose governments were in support of the use of force to flush out the impostor towards the enthronement of the legitimate government in Ivory Coast.MEDIA reports also revealed that Gbagbo, in a boundless fit of anger ordered the motar shelling of a market in the district of Abobo, situated in the northern part of Abidjan. Casualties were put at about 20 people dead and over 60 wounded, including pitiably, a woman, who came with her baby and another toddler who was also killed. A shell also killed a family of three when it fell on their courtyard.WHAT appeared strange in the Ivorian episode was the recalcitrance of Gbagbo to listen to the words of wisdom from eminent world leaders including President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. It was even reported that a soft landing, including professorial chair in a United States university and a blanket amnesty for all his transgressions, were part of the bargain offered Gbagbo.RATHER than absorbing these useful exhortations and offers in good faith, Gbagbo exhibited unfathomable stubbornness and hubris until the curtain was brought down on him.CORRUPTION among other vices, can be ascribed to the sit-tight syndrome which has become the political neurosis of many African leaders as shown in Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and a host of other African countries. The upheavals and socio-economic cataclysm in these countries, show clearly that deception can only endure for a while but never in perpetuity.NOW that Ouattara has won the war on the battle front, it will be a dangerous illusion for him to bask in the euphoria of success until he has brought total peace to Ivory Coast. Having won the battle, he must win the peopleit will amount to a factual deficit to deny the perpetration of pogrom in the country during the anti-climax of the conflict, to which both sides have been shifting blame.AS it has become the unsavoury tradition in African countries, presidential elections more often than not, are the fertile ground for the display of primordial and tribal sentiments which are always accompanied by civil strife and in most cases, internecine wars. These political shortcomings in Africa, it has to be pointed out, place a heavy burden on President Ouattara in his quest for expeditious reconciliation of the feuding sides which are populated by various tribes. This daunting task, including making the populace feel, through government policies, that the nation belongs to all, must be openly actualised.PRESIDENT Ouattara should instantly commence the healing process by inaugurating the truth and reconciliation commission, where all Ivorians will have the opportunity of venting their grouses without let or hindrance. The badly factionalised Ivorian armed forces should also be re-oriented and unified under an indissoluble national defence that will be virile and committed to protect the sovereignty of Ivory Coast. These efforts should start by ordering the Gbagbo troops to lay down their arms in the interest of peace and granting of amnesty to those who heed the call.THE revitilisation of the economic structures of the country must be on the front burner for Ouattara. He has to rekindle the confidence of investors in his country, to jump-start the comatose industries, thereby providing employment for the large population of the jobless youths, in order to accelerate reconciliation process and social stability. The disgraceful fall of Gbagbo should send a clear signal to other African despots who have wittingly assumed a monarchical status thus short circuiting the democratic process in their countries, through the deployment of military armaments to suppress the legitimate demands of the people for a participatory government.QUATTARA is looked upon with a lot of positive expectations from all over the world and he can therefore not afford to fail his supporters at both national and international fora. He should remember that the civil conflict that is about ending hopefully, represents the second war in Ivory Coast with attendant and massive destruction of life and property. No country, it needs be sounded, can go through three wars and still be the same again. We hope Ouattara will resist the temptation of turning himself into a worse despot, thereby leading to a precipitous fall in his widespread popularity with a consequent and probably furious repeat of socio-political crisis. Gbagbos mistakes, we believe, should just be enough lessons for Ouattara.THE victorious pro-Ouattara forces must be cautioned against the display of barbarity and overzealousness in their approach to civil relations. The physical attack on former President Gbagbo and the indecent exposure of the former first lady of the country after they have been captured do not in the least, show any iota of civility.WE urge that Gbagbo and his captured family be accorded human dignity without compromising the legal channels for sanctioning him for his offences in strict conformity with international norms and values. Moreover, a common accused is even presumed innocent until proof of guilt is established. So it should be for Gbagbo.
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