The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Friday officially declared his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for July 15.
Kagame, who has served as president since 2000, was nominated as the candidate of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) following the party’s endorsement at its congress in March. The upcoming election will feature both presidential and parliamentary seats. According to the electoral calendar, candidates have until May 30 to submit their applications.
According to the National Electoral Commission, about 9.5 million Rwandans are eligible to vote in this year’s elections. ■
KAGAME RE- ELECTION DECLARATION , BAD NEWS TO RWANDA AND AFRICA
Whereas Paul Kagame has been hailed, venerated, admired and respected in Rwanda and Africa as one the industrious, incorruptible transformational leaders of his generation in the 21st century and many African neighboring countries viewing him as the messiah they would wish in Africa,
Everyone in the region views and praises him as a pragmatic, no -nonsense, visionary leader who has turned Rwanda, once failed state into a prosperous paradise by African standards.
However, Kagame’s seeking for re- election is not only a detrimental nightmare into his personal credibility and leadership credentials but bad news for Rwanda and Africa as it qualifies him to be a club member of the heartless, power greed, selfish dictators who are characterized kleptocracy, autocratic, corrupt, leaders who have overstayed in power.
Once a model for democratization and stability, Kagame’s re-election will lead to absolute destruction of democratic institutions, pillars and Principles for which he has struggled to build. His bid to prolong his stay in power will automatically crash all the democratic sanity thousands of Rwandans died for.
Kagame’s bid to long stay in power will breed a club of merciless, coldblooded, pintless, nepotistic, corrupt inner circle of sycophants who will use their position to plunder and amass wealth while they tighten Kagame’s grip in power and this will incubate gross human rights abuses as he will lose the support of the majority of his current political worshippers over a time implying that himself and his inner circle will have to apply oppressive methods to maintain control, including curtailing freedoms of speech, assembly, the press, and oppressing and persecuting political opponents.
Paul Kagame’s long stay in power will weaken state institutions and organs of government such as the judiciary, legislature and electoral bodies to serve his interests so as to tighten his grip on power which will increase criminality, injustice, economic mismanagement, lack of accountability and stunted development.
Finally, Kagame’s re- election to stay in power beyond his current term will breed generational disconnect for which he is likely to be out of touch with the realities of younger citizens, their needs and aspirations leading to policies that fail to address contemporary issues thus widening the gap between the government and the populace thus fermenting the situation to violent uprisings, instability prone to civil unrest and a possible military coup.
Therefore, as a contemporary liberator, a transformational leader, an astonishing statesman and an accomplished leader, the incorruptible person and soul in him should convince him to retire when he is most loved so as he also gains from his sweat of laying a permanent foundation for political, social and economic stability and prosperity for Rwanda. As his legacy will always be written in the world history as the global idol for leaders who should be emulated and permanently politically glorified.
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Sseruwu Alex John
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