It ' s irrational to ask Ali Bongo , beloved son of his father Omar Bongo , former president of Gabon , to understand the daily problems of the little people of Gabon , and to provide appropriate solutions , when he ' s always had a privileged life as the son of a president in the tropics . In cases such as Cameroon , where the current president Paul Biya can be considered to have modest origins at 90 years of age , including more than 40 years as president and almost 60 years as a senior government o cial . It should be pointed out that the latter , like his deposed Gabonese counterpart , has spent most of his life in the privileged class , even during his childhood , as he was born in 1933 in colonial Cameroon , where catechists like his father were practically auxiliaries of the colonial administration and de facto part of the indigenous bourgeois class . This enabled him to study under the best possible conditions for the era , and later to receive a scholarship in the West . According to the legend , he even had to interrupt his academic cursus , because positions of responsibility awaited him at the end of his studies at a leading political science school in France . So , it ' s safe to say that Mr . Biya has never su ered , and it ' s only natural that he should turn a deaf ear to the aspirations of the Cameroonian people
The same goes for the likes of Paul Kagame of Rwanda , Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea , or Yoweri Museveni of Uganda , who , by staying in power for so long , become embroiled in kleptocracy , lose all notion of their humble origins and become little inclined to understand the plight of their people . Ultimately , if social science isn ' t always accurate , it must be admitted that life experience provides leaders with important baggage . Struggles and challenges often force individuals to develop problem-solving skills , resilience and adaptability . Leaders who have not encountered and overcome obstacles may lack these essential skills , leaving them ill-equipped to handle crises or unexpected challenges that arise in their leadership role . Despite the false legends often written by Western propaganda agencies who want to sell their candidate to public opinion , it ' s important to note that a leader , a real one , must inspire and motivate others : to give their best . Leaders who have never experienced di culties may find it hard to inspire their people , because they can ' t tell personal stories of overcoming adversity or demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges . What ' s more , they have phobia of risk , because they can ' t understand the potential rewards and benefits that can come from taking calculated risks , or the opportunity that a crisis can open up .
Hubert Marlin Elingui Jr . Journalist .
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Flashmag ! Issue 143 August 2023