ABIDJAN: THE PARIS OF AFRICA

Sijibomi Ogundele celebrates the Ivorian Senate President, Guillaume Kigbafori Soro

In 1997, my uncle told me about a twinkle city, which is described as le petit paris, the most dynamic and beautiful city in sub-Saharan Africa. My arrival in Abidjan is an experience impossible to forget. Coming from a city where the only light I saw was via kerosene lanterns and cooking stoves, here I was arriving Ivory Coast at night - the streetlights, the tall buildings in plateau, and the diplomatic residence at Cocody, blew my mind.

I was only 16 when I met a 26-year-old man, who was notorious in the eyes of the society, a radical university student leader, a fighter for justice and a defender of equal rights. Who knew that a short coincidence would bring me closer to one of the most powerful men in Ivory Coast, my friend and big brother, Guillaume Kigbafori Soro, former Prime Minister and presently the President of the Senate in Ivory Coast? Twenty years later, I was summoned to spend the 46th birthday weekend with Africa’s most dynamic leader, young at heart, strong in the mind, and a political maverick who understands the Motomatic philosophy of leadership - success knows no race or colour; it only celebrates excellence and hard work.

After a little rest, Mr. Cesc, one of Soro’s confidants drove me around the city. I was moved by the beautiful landscape and the infrastructural development. I was struck by their speed and level of achievements. From Liberia to Sudan and from Libya to Libreville, war had been fought; countries and destinies destroyed. But for the first time, I saw the dividends of war, and how implementations of visions are guaranteed by the right mindset, the Will to do things and the dedication to achieve greatness. In less than 10 years, a country that had gone through one of the most painful civil wars in modern times had evolved into a beauty, howbeit fragile; six new bridges have been built, eight new shopping malls with top international brands, and a dynamic and functional six-lane road system. For a second, it didn’t feel like being in Africa.

Despite the fact he was in a long high profile security meeting, Soro insisted on seeing me immediately. His calmness, humility and humour separate him from his peers. A part of me was perplexed and the other, impressed. I never could have imagined that in almost 20 years, a simple student who grew up in Abidjan’s poorest neighbourhood could now eat at the leadership table of his nation.

While taking in the beauty of human companionship and long-term friendships, I blurted out the words. “What motivates you, and why are you in politics?” He went calm, fixed his shirt and sat properly. The room adjusted to his demeanour. He looked at me and said; “Injustice, the unjust system of education and my experience during school. The systemic denial of my scholarship was what pushed me to the wall to stand for my right and eventually the right of others. The injustice of medication and unaffordable healthcare system; the discriminatory banking and financial sector that only supports the one per cent of our society; the injustice of education; the provision and lack of creation of a level playing ground where businesses thrive and young entrepreneurs can achieve whatever they want, not because their aunty is rich or their uncle is a minister but because they have an inept capacity to be the best. This injustice is what wakes me up and keeps me awake. Even when I was offered billions and a sweet position in government, I couldn’t accept because it was contrary to my principles and I would be selling the destiny of my people, I Refused it.’’

I was moved. I had never heard someone describe his purpose in such a passionate manner, with history and experience to back it up. He continued. “No one wanted me here. But with the collaboration of common interest, I was able to achieve this and a lot more work needs to be done.”

GKS as he is usually called didn’t stop there. As we had dinner, he talked about Nigeria - ‘The America of Africa’. He spoke of his love for General Ibrahim Buhari and wished him good health, his respect for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and how he thinks he is a great political strategist. I didn’t expect him to know so much about Nigeria, its politics and country. But then, this was GSK. He had been to Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Niger, Lagos, and Ota. He spoke lengthily of his love for his brother nation Nigeria, professing his great admiration and keen observation of Nigeria’s Houses of Assembly and its leaders; their never-give-up attributes and leadership, and his mentor and political godfather, Olusegun Obasanjo. Soro expressed his love for a man who has for most of his life dedicated himself to the service of Africa. He said Obansanjo reminded him of Houphouët-Boigny of Ivory Coast. He envied the likes of Aliko Dangote and the bull, Mike Adenuga. He hopes that one day, the Nigerian and Ivorian societies would have a strong enterprising relationship that would help Ivory Coast create the Adenugas and the Dangotes of Africa.

I left Ivory Coast excited and elevated, and thinking to myself, “if only we could have such a leader in Nigeria, who is young at heart, efficient in his doings, genuine in his character, an African Lee Kuan Yew who believes so much in meritocracy, then our society would compete not only regionally, but internationally.”