JACOB ZUMA, A POPULIST PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA?

As South Africa swears in her fourth president today, May 9, 2009 at Union Building, Pretoria, Icheoku says, congratulations for successfully transferring power, once again, to a new democratically elected president!

Since the end of racist minority apartheid government in South Africa, three successive presidents have handed over the baton of power successfully; unlike in some other African countries including Nigeria? Starting with Nelson Mandela, the first elected post-apartheid president of South Africa, to Thabo Mbeki then to Kgalema Motlanthe and now to the new president. Icheoku hopes that the new man of power will honor and respect the abiding-faith tradition as shown by his predecessors, and successfully usher in his successor at the appropriate future time. Like United States President Barack Obama, President Jacob Zuma has stepped into the over-sized shoes of President Nelson Mandela, and has become another 'leader-president' of South Africa?

Congratulations President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa (Msholozi) Zuma 67, on your inauguration as the fourth president of independent Republic of South Africa. Unlike the Nigeria's imposed President Umaru Yar'Adua, your election on 22rd April 2009, was world-adjudged as free, fair and credible; and as reflects the general will of the people of South Africa. With South Africa now emerging to fill the leadership gap of Africa abdicated by Nigeria's ineptitude, the world now looks upon you to provide the necessary leadership that will propel Africa forward. Also we expect you to make South Africa once again livable by all, irrespective of race, creed or religion. The terrifying crime rate, if checked, will be a welcome first step; and above all please do not let over-zealousness drive your promised land redistribution agenda. Always take a lesson from Zimbabwe and advise yourself accordingly while prosecuting this project-redistribution, so that you may avoid the pitfalls of President Robert Mugabe, who has lost the world on what he really wants out of Zimbabwe? Please you must handle your land redistribution promise very tactically in order not to alienate the "lease-holders" as obtained in Zimbabwe with its concomittant consequences. This alone is the reason why the "others" are very wary and apprehensive of your presidency and wanted to thwart it through all those sleazy allegations and accusations! Be advised and stay advised!

The world could use another popular, smiling, dancing, cultural, joking, jocular and manly-handsome president in Pretoria! The black-race in particular, hopefully, will be proud of your leadership for all South Africans and you cannot afford to fail them? Icheoku prays, you represent every South Africa and be the every people's president and not in any way whatsoever, permit and/or allow the xenophobia-induced animosity and attendant cleansing to continue to periodically boil-over. As a lasting legacy, please strive to make South Africa the melting pot of Africa just like the United States of America is to the world. Mr. President, please remember your pro-masses’ campaign-promises to improve economic conditions, create jobs, fight crime, build houses for the masses, improve on public services, schools, make health care affordable and tackle HIV/AIDS pandemic.

However, Icheoku fears that the new president may eventually go the way of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe who was so blinded by his 'patriotic zeal' that his miscalculations led to the dog-house where Zimbabwe is presently today; causing so much pain and suffering to the people of Zimbabwe by his recalcitrance? Hopefully, President Zuma will appreciate things differently and not myopically as his cousin in Zimbabwe whose perception is most of the times, different from the realities on the ground? Another fear is that his very limited educational development may impede his analytical power and/to understand that running a government is distinctly different from running one's family or harem? With only a third-grader (primary education standard three) education, the jury is still out on how the new president will be able to cope as well as understand the intricacies of good logical presentations and/of the nitty-gritty of governance? But he is loved and respected by his people and hopefully, wisdom will supplement whatever formal educational training deprived him. To the exuberant leader-president of South Africa, Icheoku wishes you good-luck as you try to improve and sanitize South Africa, especially the crime wave; and also improve race relations, which is currently a sitting tinderbox. Once again, congratulations, Mr. President!