Despite the existence of mountains of information that their countries are on the precipice of doom African leaders have dithered, waffled and procrastinated and played survival politics. Many of them, with political rhetoric and hyperbole at their hearts, have not only failed to take decisive measures to address these problems but have instead engaged in double-speak and blame games. In African countries, the presidency is the heart and the engine of the state and in most instances the bane of the nation. Whoever is the head of state finds it his manifest destiny to indulge in African leaders' favorite pastime, namely cronyism, nepotism and outright plunder of national resources through the distribution of the national carcass. The national carcass is political lordship, monopoly of state violence and its application, or material and financial benefits. It is because of this that African leaders have been variously and aptly referred to as "Eating Chiefs." An African president is someone with extreme political power but essentially an Autocrat, a Tsar, a Kaiser, a Big Parochial Boss. Instead of serving their people, African leaders have looted and plundered state coffers with impunity and in utter disregard and contempt of the peoples' needs. (Okumo, 2001, Why is afro-pessmism so pervasive .)
Courtesy: School of Leadership Studies, Regent University
