Reverse the gale of hardship now or face imminent consequences, Prof Falola charges African leaders

Eminent Historian and internationally-rated academic Icon, Prof Toyin Falola has predicted that a fresh wave of peoples angst and revolution is imminent in many African countries except the leaders and Heads of State in the Region take urgent steps to reverse the gale of hardship being faced by the people.

He also said the obscene profligacy and high-scale corruption by African leaders will be contributory to push the people of the respective countries into what he called “revolutionary options”.

Prof Falola spoke on Sunday night as Guest on the popular monthly interview discourse, Boiling Point Arena, hosted by a media professional and public relations strategist, Dr Ayo Arowojolu.

The current affairs programme which is the 27th episode via Zoom was broadcast live by three radio stations, WASH 94.9FM, Lagos, Sweet 107.1FM and Roots 97.1FM both located in Abeokuta.

Speaking on the topic: “The Socio-Economic and Political Survival of Mother Africa–The Dilemma and Viable Options”, he nonetheless said the revolutionary options are preventable if the leaders reverse their current disconnect from the reality on ground.

Said Dr Falola: “I think it is becoming urgent that African leaders must do everything to reduce the pain and hardship being faced by the people.

“Because if power is just about sharing resources, if it is not about using revenues to develop people, to what extent can you say the democratic dividends are spreading?

“Corruption will damage everything. Can we reform this democracy? Yes. But it’s going to involve what those in power do not like, And they must be careful not to push citizens to revolutionary options. They must be careful not to push citizens to violence.

“There are some African countries today, as in the case of Cameroon, if there is a coup, people will flood to the streets and clap. We want to prevent situations like that. They are preventable to the extent that you govern well, manage resources, and govern with sincerity and passion”.

Prof Falola, a distinguished professor who has lectured in universities in over 65 countries, opined that it was time for African leaders to rebrand and be more people-centered.

Hear him: “African leaders only involve themselves in money sharing. No development is on their agenda. What this means is that we are only shortchanging ourselves.

“Corruption will slow down development when leaders are misusing resources. The money that is meant for development are being diverted to personal pockets.

“But, when will this stop, this age of greed, such that we can now begin to use our resources to develop our people.

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“Yet there are bigger problems of illicit transfer of over $88bn every year from the continent through trade mis-invoicing, loss of natural resources, tax evasion by foreign companies in collusion with our officials in the continent.

“That is a big issue, huge with devastating impact. There’s a capitalist domination that makes that illicit financial flow possible. The amount of money that Africans steal from their own revenues even in the domestic arena is mind-boggling”

On Nigeria, Prof Falola warned that Nigerians are increasingly loosing faith in a democracy that has never delivered dividends to the people.

“We are facing democratic recessions. Our people are losing confidence in this democracy. There is pain in the land. And because democracy doesn’t deliver, it has accentuated the problem of corruption which people are talking about. It reduces the number of people who can fight for justice and who can fight against corruption”, he declared.

A foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola was the keynote Speaker on the Zoom interview discourse.