By Ben Nkem Oramalugo
October 15, 2021 marked 34 years since Thomas Sankara was assassinated in Ouagadougo via the inhuman conspiracies of the Western imperialists, Ivory Coast and his good friend Blaise Compaore on October 15, 1987. Nevertheless, even in death Sankara has joined the pantheon of immortals whole ideals and praxis dominated and influenced Africa and will therefore live forever in the hearts of the people. His life was story of revolutionary regeneration of Burkina Faso (with a population of 8.5 million in 1985 and now 19.7 million).
Before his emergence as the leader of Burkina Faso, his country was one of the poorest countries in Africa ravaged by the exploitation of the Western Powers in collaboration with corrupt internal collaborators. At the age of 33 in 1983 when he became President, he immediately unleashed profound changes in the social, economic and political trajectory of his country. In tacit alliance, with socialist inclined states like Cuba, North Korea, China, Russia and China etc, he awakened the ideological consciousness of Burkina Faso people.
His charismatic popularity resonated throughout the world. He
became a regular guest in regional and world forums like ECOWAS, Non Align
Movement, United Nations etc. The major plank of his administration was the
nationalization of the key sectors of the economy and mobilization of Marxist
tendencies in the evolution and reconstruction of Burkina Faso.
He changed the name of the country from Upper Volta to Burkina
Faso (The land of Incorruptible people) in 1984. He abrogated the ostentatious
lifestyle of Burkina Faso leaders and people.
He discarded expensive Mercedes Cars being used by political
appointees and replaced them with Renault Cars. Most of the time, he went to
the office on bicycle. He lived a modest life and in unison, his people
emulated him. He prioritized education and health. Education was made free and
compulsory. Civil education was encouraged. School attendance under Sankara
rose from 6% to 22%. Some unorthodox practices against women like female
genital mutilation, polygamy and forced marriages were exterminated. From 1982
to 1984, the infant mortality rate dropped from 208 per 1,000 births to 145.
Pharmacies were built in 5,384 out of 7,500 villages. Two Million children were
vaccinated against yellow fever, measles etc.
He spent most of his time trying to reclaim land devastated by
desert encroachment by planting 10 million trees. He built more roads and 100km
of rail without external borrowing. The GDP of the country doubled within two
years of Sankara in power (CFAFr 455bn in 1985).
As an admirer of Fidel Castro of Cuba, his foreign policy was
anti-imperialism. He abhorred aids from international monetary fund and World
Bank. In Agacher strip war of 1985, Sankara mobilized his country against Mali
and kept the latter in check. He constantly reminded the world that Africa had
come of age and that we should keep our destiny in our own hands. No
wonder Cuba rewarded Sankara with the highest honour of the State, “The order
of Jose Marti”. He called on Africans to repudiate the foreign debt they
owed, arguing that the loans were fraudulently negotiated and obtained.
Indeed, Sankara was a Charismatic leader. In his speech titled
“Democratic and popular Revolution”, on October 2, 1983 written by his good
friend Valera Some, he enunciated his popular enigmatic policies which were
geared towards eradicating corruption, desertification, famine and promoting
education and health facilities. He mobilized his country towards aggressive
development.
However, towards the middle of 1983, his policies have started attracting criticism. In 1984, several individuals accused of treason, were tried and executed. 2,500 teachers were dismissed and replaced by untrained graduate teachers. Popular Revolutionary Tribunals that he set up resorted to arbitrary judicial activism and political persecutions. Amnesty International accused Sankara Government of not doing enough towards conforming to international accepted standards in the area of judicial processes. He demanded that all Government officials should wear cotton made national colours, the "Faso dan Fami”.
The Civil Servants resented this policy as their wardrobes had
to be updated at their expense. In January 1987, the prices of beer were
increased by 37.5 percent. As a result, there was less demand for beer. Because
of decrease in patronage, staff strength was reduced. In order to muster good
image for the Country, Sankara outlawed begging, which did not go down well
with the poor. In eagerness to encourage individuals to grow more fruits and
vegetables and save foreign exchange, he banned their importation. There was a
colossal fall in custom duties on fruits and vegetables. Local fruits and
vegetables became expensive. Labour unions were emasculated. Also the humongous
demand for mobilization towards the revolutionary cause triggered a wave of
exhaustion.
All the above can be regarded as the remote causes of Sankara’s
fall. However, it must be stated that the immediate cause of the fall of
Sankara was the emergence of internal wrangling within the Government fuelled
by envy, jealousy, hatred attracted by Sankara. Sankara at this period had
attained the height of most charismatic African leaders. No wonder on October
15, 1987, he was killed with 100 of his aides at the presidential palace in
Ouagadougou.
The popular front (PF) Government of Campaore was not different
from Sankara’s Government except on the level of radicalism. Campaore argued
that the ideology of Sankara was still intact and that his Government would only
engage in “ Rectification” of policies. “Rectification” remained rather a vague
conceptualization. It was clear that the demarcation between Sankara and
Campaore was engineered by personal vendetta and not political –
ideology.
According to Michael Kevame of Santa Clara University, California,
“Sankara was a confident revolutionary who wanted to transform society, without
being all that wise about society. He wanted to rule on the basis of trust and
good-will expecting that he could always persuade his detractors. This was
precisely the argument that Biaise Compaore faction used to justify Sankara’s
killing. In criticizing Sankara, one runs the risk of appearing to legitimise
Compaore”.
Nevertheless, all progressive forces all over the world are happy that Compaore and his killer squad are presently on trial in Burkina Faso for the killing of Sankara. Though Compaore is in exile in Ivory Coast, he Continued to deny his dastardly involvement. If he was not involved in the killing of Sankara, why did he continue to treat Sankara with disdain, even after death? Why did he not allow Mariam, the widow of Sankara and her two Sons to leave Burkina Faso and fly to Gabon until 1988. If according to Campaore, that he did not kill Sankara, who killed Major Lingani, Minister of Defence and Captain Zongo, Minister of Economic promotion on September 19, 1987?
The truth
is that the above two ministers were accused of plotting to bomb Campaore and
his plane on his return from an Asian country visit. Consequently Lingani
and Zongo were executed. The fact remains that Campaore has blood on his hands
and the day of judgment has come. It would be in the larger interest of Africa,
that Government of Cote d’Ivoire should repatriate fugitive Campaore to Burkina
Faso to face well deserved justice. African countries should begin to
realize that there is no more hiding place for murderers. Sooner or later all
political murderers in Africa shall slowly but surely pay for their wickedness.
“When you go home, tell them of us, and say, for your tomorrow, we
gave our today” is inscribed on a memorial to British soldiers who were killed
in World War II at Kohima in Eastern India . Likewise, Sankara died, so that
Burkina Faso people could live. He was one of the greatest African Leaders that
has ever lived. For the four years, he presided over Burkina Faso, he
revolutionized the country on the path of positive development, he cut down the
cost of government, ruled by example, eschewed corruption, introduced
people-oriented policies, lampooned imperialism and spoke for Africa.
Indeed, he was lion of Africa.
*Dr.
Oramalugo is a Historian, Political Scientist and a Fellow of Nigeria Institute
of Management (Chartered)
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