It's Over For President For Life: Muammar Gadhafi

Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi

June 1942 – 20 October 2011

No happy ending for Gaddafi. 42 years in power and 2 months on the run, however, liberation is finally here for Libya as former African "Iron Man," and self proclaimed “the king of kings of Africa” Mohamed Gaddafi was reduced to pleading for his life before being killed. The day many thought they'd never live to see came and went. This shows that nothing lasts forever.

Unfortunately, Gaddafi’s cling to power is not peculiar to him and Libya as many other African nations are in this same predicament. Therefore, all other "African President's Life" holding on to power for an inordinate amount of time and hoping they will have power for a life time should take the time to review their life, times and legacy and remember that being president is not their birthright or life long position.

Just as any wise and reasonable person and even Gaddafi came to realize, albeit too late, nothing lasts forever. Gaddafi usurped power via violence, betrayed Libyans and made Libyans and Africans look uncivilized in the world community. Africa and Africans in the West often aren't taken seriously or accorded much respect because we can't disconnect ourselves from stigma of the lack of civility and respect for due process of many of our leaders exhibit.

Generally, men love respect, money and power. African men especially love this powerful combination. However, for many it is a lethal combination and weapon they wield.  Unfortunately, many forget that power is like a prostitute that a man logically knows he should leave alone, but won’t because he enjoys their interaction and ultimately leads to his destruction.  

This was Gadhafi’s problem. He had taken enough money to last anyone for a life time and should have stepped down years ago and created a good life for him elsewhere.  If that was too early by his calculations, when his people, the Libyans he was supposed to be leading began calling for him to leave office,  that should have been a wakeup call.  He could have become a respected elder statesman with living a luxurious life somewhere else, but he turned to an unreasonable lunatic who clung to power which led to his death. He wanted it all and ended up with nothing. Such is the lot of people like him.

All others like him would be wise to take note, including the next president of Libya who may secretly nurse the same dream of becoming president for life in a couple of years as we frequently see in many countries in Africa.

A word is enough for the wise…