'You've overstayed your welcome gentlemen, you must leave NOW'

Power corrupts. The more one stays in position of power, the more they become comfortable and more stubborn s/he becomes.

Africa successfully fought against African colonialism, a ruling system whereby African states' affairs were fully run and governed by Western countries. When this unjust system was defeated, all eligible people to voting  were allowed to independently elect/vote for political parties and people that they regard to be fit to run and coordinate the affairs of their sovereign states (democracy).

However, some African heads of state who were voted into power by masses, after the long unjust spell of colonialism found comfort zones in their positions of power and decided to stay longer, unconsciously giving birth to a system known as authoritarianism. This system gives the ruling elite power and authority to make decisions about the way state affairs should be controlled, without the contribution or proper consultation  of grassroots masses.

Tunisians took a bold stance and became the first to say enough is enough as all civilians spoke in one voice, calling for president Abidine Ben Ali who had been in power for 23 years to step down. Ben Ali was forced to call it quits and flee his mother land due to the disgruntled citizens who took to the streets calling for Ali's head.

Egyptian civilians were inspired by what transpired in Tunisia in the successful ousting of the authoritarian Ben Ali. The inspired Egyptians mobilized in large numbers with a common interest to put an end to the 30 years authoritarian rule of president Hosni Mubarak and his regime. After a hard fought battle, people of Egypt tasted victory as Mubarak left office and the military was unonymously appointed by civilians to temporarily take over the control of their state's affairs.

Lybians also joined the party as they took to the streets, calling for the head of the 40 years long serving president Muamur Gadaffi. The longest serving African head of state ignored civilians' grievances and decided to retaliate by ordering his loyal troops to shoot the innocent pro democracy protesters. The authoritarian Gadaffi is adamant that he will not step down while innocent citizens continue to be killed by the merciless Gadaffi soldiers. The stubborn old man is still enjoying his spell at the presidential office and the Lybian mayhem remains to be seen.

Swaziland civilians have recently added their name to the list of pro democracy protests, calling for an end of the authoritarian rule by King Mswati the third.

Africans are slowly but surely beginning to subscribe to the notion of 'power to the people'. If what we recently experienced in the then African authoritarian run states is anything to go by, the saying which states 'united we stand, separated we fall' prevails to the masses of poverty stricken African civilians.