Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, has criticized African leaders for being reluctant to leave office due to “lucrative gains” attached to resources they control while in power. He said the problem is common with power drunk leaders who have been in government for two or more years. “My personal interpretation is that the gains of politics on the African continent as it is constituted now are so lucrative that those who find themselves in office do not want to leave power. It has something to do with resources that come into the system and under the control of those who run power,” Mr. Victor Gbeho, former Member of Parliament for Anlo Constituency said. He described the status quo with the current crop of leaders as an “unacceptable way of running a democracy”. He said the “new face” of despotism as portrayed in Kenya and presently in Zimbabwe should be condemned. Mr. Gbeho told Citi FM on Monday, “African leaders will have to learn to gracefully bow out,” perhaps taking a cue from what the National Democratic Congress led government did in 2001. He said even though the continent is trying to paint the picture that it is democratic, economically successful and united, however, the practice is different on the ground. Mr. Gbeho also bemoaned that the youth of today have been corrupted by politicians, who are ready to trade their conscience for money. “We have a new generation of people coming up who know nothing else but vote buying. That is where the danger is,” he said. He called on leaders to re-educate the electorate to consider issues and judge government on their performance, and what a political party can do for them. Story by Isaac Essel