A wind of change is blowing in the North of Africa. What lessons are there for the governments of other parts of Africa to learn from? Enough lessons!
The story started in Tunisia. Egypt followed, Jordan and Yemen refused to be left behind. Different people, but their demands are the same: “We want a change of government!”
The masses are now demanding that no one person should overstay in power. The streets of Cairo are completely taken over by the civilians who are demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
Mubarak has been in power since the fall of the regime of Anwar Sadat, whose assassination by some military officers took place some 23 years ago. Mubarak was a solider himself.
“No more over stay and even if one has rigged elections the masses will no longer allow one person to personalise the state. Enough is enough?, said the protesters in Cairo.
Similar scene is rocking the streets of Yemen and Jordan where leaders hold on to power for decades.
What is happening in the North of our continent is a clear indication that most of our sitting presidents in Africa have either rigged elections or used other forceful means to overstay in power.  
To those breed of leaders, it is abundantly clear to them that time is up to get-out of the palaces for the masses are no longer ready to accept self-perpetuating rulers.
 Why has it been like this all along in North, Central, or West African states?  The answer is simple. It’s all sheer greed and dictatorial tendencies.
The protests have got its negative consequences. The loss of lives and destruction of properties are so enormous that one may not see the positive side of it. But it atleast sends a signal across the world, particularly the developing world.   
This wind of change is so powerful that it is causing sitting presidents with all their might to flee the presidential palaces. This goes to qualify that power rest in the hands of the masses. Since the early days of liberated Africa, the army have been using force to toppled governments they deemed corrupt.
However, very few, if there is any, who lived up to their promises. Consequently, Africa has witnessed lots of coups and counter coups, particularly in the early 60s.  The Daily News believes that no coup is a good coup anywhere at any time and under any circumstance. It contravenes democratic principles and the rule of law.
For several decades the masses, especially in the developing world, have been force to keep silent and accept the wrong-doings of bad leaders. Most of these leaders would prefer to stay in power at all cost even if their people will have to die in their numbers.
Now, the masses are taking their rightful position in society. They are beginning to put that thinking aside and take on to the streets to demand for positive change. This is by no means, the best way to effect a change. It could be avoided. To those following the same trend, our advice is that, they have all the time in the world to make positive changes in their governance system. What Africa needs is transitions from one government to another by peaceful means. Our governments MUST have presidential term limits to bring an end to overstaying in power.
If Egypt or Tunisia had presidential term limits, what is unfolding there would have been avoided. The call for presidential term limits must be heeded.  
Democracy is working well by having presidential term limits in Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone.    Why can’t other countries like The Gambia, Zimbabwe, Guinea Conakry, Bissau, Togo, and so on learn from these positive lessons?  Presidential term limit is our only guarantee to a peaceful transition from one government to another.  The world is watching African and the Asian countries.