The Late Omar BongoPhoto:Courtesy

Omar Ondimba Bongo, Africa’s longest serving president is no more. In life, the Gabon leader was branded Tyrant; Dictator, Corrupt, Nepotist and one who lived in luxury amidst an impoverished populace.  

Does the demise of the 73 year old leader signal the end of an era in Gabon? Nay, not  when African leaders are branded corrupt but international  accomplices who feed their tyranny and corruption are still at large; Not when offshore banks are still thirsty to accommodate stolen monies and use the monies when the account holders die; not when people don’t realize that it is not Bongo- but the Gabon governance system- which needs purging.

Africa has seen rulers come and go but the status quo remains unchanged. This is either because respective African countries are still operating under colonial structures or new rulers operate under the oppressive and inefficient system of previous regimes. The greatest send-off Africa  can accord Omar Bongo is to go beyond the personality cult and rethink its governance and economic structures.