SO MUCH FOR HEROISM... SMH!

Finally, Adama Barrow, the new Gambian President arrived Gambia today to so much aplomb and jubilation by the Gambian people.
Of course, it was worth it: After 20 years under the reign of the unpredictable Yahya Jammeh, every normal country would celebrate.
That's actually besides the point.
For 20 years, Yahya Jammeh was the lord and protector of the Gambian Realm and for that period, everything was practically done to suit his whims.
He looted his country, killed his citizens and basically impoverished his people...he shut out the International Community from his Country.
Then somehow, by way of a miracle, he subjected himself to an election that he didn't win which was strange; I'm not saying his loss was a surprise because really, it's hard to tell if he has indeed ever won an election...what was miraculous was the fact that he didn't interfere with the election process to his advantage which sadly is the norm among most sit tight African "Leaders".
What's more? He allowed the People's will to prevail to a certain extent until the jazz that was used on him cleared and he reverted to his natural mode.
These stories are barely scratching the surface...
Perhaps, the most disheartening part of the Jammeh story is the fact that after he grudgingly conceded defeat to Adama Barrow, a lot of "hero seekers" sought to confer on him, the familiar title of "hero of democracy".
I couldn't understand where this came from: to say that a man who oppressed his people for 20 years would be celebrated as a hero because he grudgingly accepted defeat in an election that he was comprehensively defeated in is hard to rationalize.
Really, what is it with us and heroes?
We keep looking for heroes and our thirst for heroes drives us to apportion heroism to those who are least deserving.
Are the standards in Africa so low that we would even attempt to confer heroism on a crazy dictator like Jammeh?
Or perhaps, heroism In Africa has a different meaning from what it in other parts of the world.
In 2015, after former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan was overthrown by popular vote, the "hero seekers" went to Town calling him a hero of democracy and showering all sorts of unnecessary encomiums on him for doing what is normal.
From these instances, one thing is clear: in Africa, there appears to be a chronic lack of true heroes and in our quest to make up for this deficit, we set really embarrassing standards for determining who is a hero.
As it stands, even sit tight rulers like Paul Biya of Cameroon will become automatic heroes and role models if by tomorrow, they decide to step down.
What this means is that regardless of whether you are a dictator who thrives in the impoverishment of your people, all your past sins will be forgiven and you'll become a new creature and automatically, a hero!
This is sad commentary and it clearly shows how far from real growth that Africa is compared to the rest of the world.
In saner climes, there's no big deal about a President stepping aside at the end of his constitutionally guaranteed tenure of office: it's only normal that you should leave.
What we do in Africa by making those who stepped down after they suffered losses in the election or at the expiration of their tenures is very similar to a Landlord praising the tenant for leaving his house at the expiration of the tenancy; it's weird and strange to the customs and conventions of saner folks.
Thankfully, it's not all gloom for Africa : a few days back, Ghana had a peaceful transition where the then incumbent John Manama lost to new President, Nana Akuffo Addo and no noise was made about it...nobody called Mahama a hero for doing what is clearly normal.
I will stop by saying that Africa is a long way from getting to the promised land : the journey is even made longer by the embarrassingly low standards we've set for our leaders...Africa will remain the dark continent for as long as we continue to place average expectations on our "leaders" and for as long as we refuse to understand that they occupy their offices at our pleasure.