On December twenty nineteen, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was overwhelmingly given the mandate by the conservatives to lead the United Kingdom promising to achieve Brexit.
For over two and a half years that he held sway, Boris Johnson was a towering figure in the politics of Britain, as his voice constantly reverberated across the country for different reasons.
A long the line as his tenure progressed, an avalanche of anger against his style of leadership became highly pronounced with the Britons questioning some of his actions.
It was as if he will see through his tenure but after months of political wrangling, Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned as leader of the conservative party to ultimately pave the way for his final ouster in the autumn.
It is important to note that about fifty Ministers and close aides resigned from the cabinet, thus making it likely that he will not continue for long as Prime Minister.
Indeed, what played out was described as a cabinet mutiny that shook the foundation of the British Government and an occurrence that has never been experienced in the political history of the United Kingdom.
The build-up to Boris Johnson’s resignation as leader of the conservative was characterised by what parliamentarians across the divide including citizens hinged on failure of leadership and the brazen disregard for the core values of integrity and morality.
In fact the final straw for many members of parliament involves Conservative lawmaker Chris Pincher, the former Deputy Chief whip who was suspended amid accusations that he sexually molested two men at a club.
The Prime Minister however apologised for appointing Chris Pincher Deputy Chief Whip, a senior party role despite knowing of an investigation into his behavior in twenty nineteen.
The revelations that Boris Johnson knew of misconduct allegations against Chris Pincher before his appointment and the repeated changes to the narrative coming from Downing Street prompted the gale of resignations.
It is instructive to note that from two thousand and six to date the United Kingdom has witnessed the resignation of three prime Ministers particularly from the conservative party.
David Cameron was the first to resign after the result of the twenty sixteen Brexit referendum, Theresa May threw in the towel on July twenty nineteen after being unable to pass her Brexit withdrawal agreement, and the latest, Boris Johnson announced his resignation on July seventh twenty twenty-two, after losing support from his party following a series of scandals.
The gale of resignations in the United Kingdom has pointed to one fact, the need for leaders to at all times build trust in the minds of the people and govern with a high sense of integrity and moral standard.
Unfortunately, these principles are lacking in Africa, Nigeria inclusive, a reason why the continent is full of sit-tight leaders and political appointees.
Even in the face of gross misconduct and failure, political leaders in Africa do not see the need to call it quit rather they rob their misdeeds in the faces of the masses.
Such was the case in Zimbabwe, Angola, Kenya, Libya and Egypt just to mention few where leaders were forced out of office in very bizarre circumstances after holding sway and underperforming for many years.
To make matters worse, some of these leaders were grooming their children and other family members to take over from them without recourse to the feelings of the people until the bubble busted and they were forced to resign.
In Nigeria, the story is not different as so many unfortunate issues bordering on the economy, health, security, oil and gas as well as education have arisen which ordinarily should thrown people out of their present positions, however some appointed and elected leaders have clung onto power behaving as if it is their birth right.
If only leaders in Africa realise the true essence of power, they should know that it is transient hence the need to build institutions that will outlive them and enthrone a friendly style of governance.
Just like what happened in the United Kingdom, leaders in Africa must be ready to quit the stage when the ovation is still loud to make room for others to also play their part in nation building.
Write Up/ Awuhe Terfa