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, but 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. But 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, Guillau- me Kigbafori Soro, former Prime Minister and presently the President of the Senate in Ivory Coast.
While the world sleeps, destiny plans the next move to take 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 under- stands the Motomatic philoso-phy 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; 6 new bridges have been built, 8 new shopping malls with top international brands, and a dynamic and functional 6 lane road system. For a second, it didn’t feel like being in Africa.
Even though the malls are beautiful and the roads are wider, the potential of real estate like Nigeria remains the same; lots of beautiful but dilapidated buildings all around prime locations. I do not understand if it’s an African curse. Why do we have so much under-utilised potentials? I had a chat with an amazing young Ivorien-Parisien Investment Banker, Bernard Ayitee, who analysed it in simple terms.
I love Abidjan, the vibrancy of the people, and the vision of its leaders. As I always say, the fundamental problem of Africa is not the capacity to develop its nation, but the vision of leader- ship and the WILL to execute. Cote d’Ivoire is the only country where you cannot say negative things about their Leaders in public without being battled or outed. President Alassane Ouattara with the strong support of Guillaume Soro’s objectives has been very clear – to put the interest of the people first, and to bring innovative ideas which would maximise economic efficiency and the success of their nation.
The driver and security protocol picked me and drove me to a prestigious residential area, calm and serene. I was received with a lot of enthusiasm from the young team of dedicated people who surround Soro. They served me the local delicious Bissap juice, and I enjoyed the view of the waiting room where I saw pictures of great leaders like Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Henri Konan Bédié, Alassane Ouattara, and so many beautiful and historical frames which draws one in, into the person Guillaume Soro has become – a disciplined visionary who sets his standards through the achievements of great leaders – a man of the people, and the saviour of Ivorian democracy.
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. “My friend, welcome home.” 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 neighborhood could now eat at the leadership table of his nation.
“Suji I hear you are the youngest and richest man in Nigeria, so before you go, you need to give me my share”. The leader joked about himself and everyone else. He never stopped discussing his experiences as a student, his first time in Paris where he didn’t have the money to take the train so he had to walk to the campus, his relationship with franco- phone Africa’s most celebrated musician, Asalfo Salif Traoré , head of Magic System.
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 demean- our. He looked at me and said; 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.
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 Buhari and wished him good health, his respect for Asiwaju 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, OBJ. 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 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.”
